Readings for Wednesday of the First Week of Advent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Isaiah 25:6-10a
Isaiah once more envisions the messianic kingdom where there is no enmity between peoples, there is not want, and the whole world rejoices in that great peace. This reading is favored at funeral liturgies because of its image of the heavenly kingdom. There is a clear sense of anticipation appropriate for the Advent season as the second coming is looked for as well as the Lord’s Nativity.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life
Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar in the entire psalter. The NAB footnote does a nice job of summarizing the message contained: “God's loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Psalm 23:1-4) and a host's generosity toward a guest (Psalm 23:5-6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10).”
Gospel Matthew 15:29-37
This account of the multiplication of the loaves is a doublet of the story found in Matthew 14: 13-21. In this story, however, Jesus takes the initiative instead of the disciples and the crowd has been with him three days. We see a good deal of Hebrew numerology in this story. The three days the crowd has been with him, three having literary significance in addition to the three days in the tomb, we find ancient Hebrew words used three times signify the most profound usage (ie. great, great, great is equivalent to great, greater, greatest). The use of seven loaves and baskets of fragments with seven being the most perfect number indicates the fullness of the event.
We also see the significant Eucharistic implications of this event as Jesus provides a miracle to satisfy the crowd in the breaking of the bread. Placed as it is, immediately following the description of how he was healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and making the lame walk, we are given a vision of the fulfillment of Messiah’s mission as predicted by Hebrew Prophets.
Reflection:
Looking forward and looking back, that is where scripture takes us constantly this Advent season. We recall today the wondrous gift we were given in Christ our Savior. We see him at his peak as true man as he heals the sick and then feeds the multitudes in this image of Eucharistic peace. We recall, looking back, how much he loves us. Indeed, when he fed the multitudes those two thousand years ago, he was feeding us as well. When he cured the sick, gave sight to the blind, and made the crippled whole, he was doing that for us too.
We look back and give thanks and then we read Isaiah’s vision of the peace in the Kingdom of God and we look forward to a day when the Lord comes again in glory and we will experience that heavenly bliss. The miracle of God’s vision, a vision that stretches back through time and looks forward to eternity, fills us with anticipation as the Advent of our Lord is once more recalled in our celebration.
And what, we ask, must we do to experience that indescribable peace we are promised? The Lord gave us the example. In the very early Church it was called “The Way”. It begins with the Great Commandment that we see so clearly lived by our Lord in today’s Gospel. He loves God so intensely that the acts of healing cause those present to glorify God (not Jesus). His acts of love for the people he both cured and fed speak the words; “Love one another.”
From those actions the peace of Christ flows. “The Way” is our answer. We follow the Lord’s example, caring for those less fortunate, feeding the hungry, seeking no praise for ourselves but humbly walking with God who blesses us. Today the great message of hope conveyed in scripture is taken to heart. Our burdens are lighter; there is a spring in our step. The Savior of the world has been revealed and his great promise is our continuing hope.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The Picture used today is “Jesus Healing the Sick” by Gustave Doré, 1865
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Isaiah 25:6-10a
Isaiah once more envisions the messianic kingdom where there is no enmity between peoples, there is not want, and the whole world rejoices in that great peace. This reading is favored at funeral liturgies because of its image of the heavenly kingdom. There is a clear sense of anticipation appropriate for the Advent season as the second coming is looked for as well as the Lord’s Nativity.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life
Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar in the entire psalter. The NAB footnote does a nice job of summarizing the message contained: “God's loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Psalm 23:1-4) and a host's generosity toward a guest (Psalm 23:5-6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10).”
Gospel Matthew 15:29-37
This account of the multiplication of the loaves is a doublet of the story found in Matthew 14: 13-21. In this story, however, Jesus takes the initiative instead of the disciples and the crowd has been with him three days. We see a good deal of Hebrew numerology in this story. The three days the crowd has been with him, three having literary significance in addition to the three days in the tomb, we find ancient Hebrew words used three times signify the most profound usage (ie. great, great, great is equivalent to great, greater, greatest). The use of seven loaves and baskets of fragments with seven being the most perfect number indicates the fullness of the event.
We also see the significant Eucharistic implications of this event as Jesus provides a miracle to satisfy the crowd in the breaking of the bread. Placed as it is, immediately following the description of how he was healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and making the lame walk, we are given a vision of the fulfillment of Messiah’s mission as predicted by Hebrew Prophets.
Reflection:
Looking forward and looking back, that is where scripture takes us constantly this Advent season. We recall today the wondrous gift we were given in Christ our Savior. We see him at his peak as true man as he heals the sick and then feeds the multitudes in this image of Eucharistic peace. We recall, looking back, how much he loves us. Indeed, when he fed the multitudes those two thousand years ago, he was feeding us as well. When he cured the sick, gave sight to the blind, and made the crippled whole, he was doing that for us too.
We look back and give thanks and then we read Isaiah’s vision of the peace in the Kingdom of God and we look forward to a day when the Lord comes again in glory and we will experience that heavenly bliss. The miracle of God’s vision, a vision that stretches back through time and looks forward to eternity, fills us with anticipation as the Advent of our Lord is once more recalled in our celebration.
And what, we ask, must we do to experience that indescribable peace we are promised? The Lord gave us the example. In the very early Church it was called “The Way”. It begins with the Great Commandment that we see so clearly lived by our Lord in today’s Gospel. He loves God so intensely that the acts of healing cause those present to glorify God (not Jesus). His acts of love for the people he both cured and fed speak the words; “Love one another.”
From those actions the peace of Christ flows. “The Way” is our answer. We follow the Lord’s example, caring for those less fortunate, feeding the hungry, seeking no praise for ourselves but humbly walking with God who blesses us. Today the great message of hope conveyed in scripture is taken to heart. Our burdens are lighter; there is a spring in our step. The Savior of the world has been revealed and his great promise is our continuing hope.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The Picture used today is “Jesus Healing the Sick” by Gustave Doré, 1865
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