Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
& Saint Nicholas, Bishop

Biographical Information about St. Nicholas

Readings for Wednesday of the 1st Week of Advent

Commentary:

Reading 1 Is 25:6-10a

Isaiah continues today with a vision of the Messiah’s victory. It is a victory that unites the nations and peoples and leads the whole world to salvation. The feast of celebration is described with rich foods and choice wines.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

We are given the 23rd Psalm, one of the most quoted and recited peace of Holy Scripture in the Bible, certainly in the Old Testament. It is at once a profession of faith in God and statement of trust in the reward prepared for the faithful.

Gospel Mt 15:29-37

We hear St. Matthew’s story of the Loaves and Fishes in this passage coupled with a little different reason for gathering. In Matthew’s story Jesus is curing the blind and the lame in other Gospels he is addressing the crowds.

The story demonstrates the saving mission of Christ and how he fulfills the Prophet’s description of his mission and grace.

Reflection:

Today is the official Feast of St. Nicholas (AKA Santa Claus & St. Nick). It comes a day after the traditional Dutch celebration that adopted the name Sinterklaas, which is a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas. Known for his generosity, this Bishop of of Myra, Lycia (modern Turkey) was adopted by parents of children who stated the whole gift giving tradition around his example. In a very real sense, there is a Santa Claus, a St. Nicholas whose example of love and generosity dominates this season and, in spite of the commercialization of the season, still accomplishes God’s work.

The scripture today makes me hungry. Isaiah talks about the celebration of the Messiah’s victory with fine foods and choice wines, the psalm speaks of “You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” And even the Gospel talks about loaves and fishes. It’s no wonder the impending celebration of the Lord’s Nativity is a diet buster. In spite of the event, cigars are not a traditional gift at this time of year, even though it is a birth we celebrate.

Returning to our on going efforts to treat this season as one of preparation for a new arrival let us today turn our attention to decorations. We have painted the room for Jesus in prayer and warmed the foundation with our attempts to build up our faith. Now let us think about what goes into the room. Without being too obvious, the first thing a baby would want in the room is us. We need to be present to the Christ Child as much as possible. That means he must be constantly on our minds. His needs should drive our actions, his happiness our goal.

To those observing us, our actions might just remind them of today’s Patron, St. Nicholas. His example of love of others and generosity, especially to the poor would be something that would make the Lord very happy and cause others to celebrate with us.

Pax