Daily Readings - Wed Dec 01 2021
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 powerful images of God's providence and compassion. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future feast on a mountain where all peoples will gather to celebrate God's victory over sorrow and death. This messianic banquet symbolizes the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to His people, where tears will be wiped away and disgrace will be lifted. It is a vision of hope and restoration, reminding us that God’s plan for humanity is one of abundant life and joy.
In the Gospel, Matthew shows us Jesus living out this vision of compassion and abundance. Surrounded by crowds of people suffering from various afflictions, Jesus heals them all, demonstrating His divine power and mercy. When the people grow hungry, Jesus takes the little they have—seven loaves and a few fish—and multiplies it, feeding the entire crowd with plenty left over. This miracle is not just about providing physical food; it is a sign of the spiritual nourishment Jesus offers to all who come to Him.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God’s providence. Like the people in the Gospel, we often face situations where we feel we have “only seven loaves” to offer. But Jesus shows us that even the smallest resources, when given to Him, can be transformed into something abundant and life-giving. Let us learn to approach life with faith, trusting that God will provide for us in His time and in His way. May we, like the crowd, recognize the presence of God among us and rejoice in His salvation, both now and forever.