Daily Readings - Wed Dec 04 2024
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 visions of God's providence and compassion. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future feast on Mount Zion, where God will remove sorrow and death, offering abundant life to all people. This passage, written during a time of hardship for Israel, serves as a beacon of hope, promising that God will ultimately triumph over suffering and restore His people.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this vision with a narrative of Jesus feeding a multitude of 4000 with just seven loaves and a few fish. This miracle underscores Jesus' compassion and divine power, demonstrating that God's provision is not just a future hope but a present reality. Both readings highlight God's desire to nourish His people, whether through spiritual or physical sustenance.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's providence and to embrace compassion. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves, our resources, though limited, can be used by God to make a significant impact when shared with others. Let us approach life with faith, gratitude, and a willingness to serve, recognizing that God's presence and provision are always available to us.