Daily Readings - Wed Dec 04 2019
Isaiah
6On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the finest of wines.7On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;8he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.9In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."10The hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain; but Moab will be trampled under him as straw is trampled down in the manure.
Matthew
29Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.30Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.31The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.32Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."33His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"34"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."35He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.36Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.37They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound expressions of God's abundant provision and care. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future feast on Mount Zion, where God will wipe away tears and destroy death, offering a vision of eternal salvation and joy. This passage, written during a time of turmoil for Israel, looks forward to a messianic era where God's people will find comfort and celebration. The second reading from Matthew illustrates Jesus' compassion as he heals the sick and feeds a multitude with just seven loaves and a few fish, demonstrating divine providence and the fulfillment of spiritual and physical needs.
Both readings highlight God's generosity and care. Isaiah's feast is a spiritual banquet, symbolizing the ultimate salvation through Christ, while Matthew's account shows Jesus addressing both the physical and spiritual hunger of the crowd. This dual focus reminds us that our faith must nurture both our souls and our bodies, trusting in God's provision in all aspects of life.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's faithfulness, even in times of scarcity or doubt. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves, He can transform our limited resources into abundance. We are called to emulate His compassion, caring for others' needs and trusting in His divine plan. The moral lesson here is one of faith and compassion: trust in God's provision and extend His love to others, just as He does for us.