Wednesday of the
First Week of Advent
(Isaiah 25:6-10a; Matthew 15:29-37)
Christians the world over feast on Christmas. In Mexico many families enjoy turkey. Italians have traditionally given culinary
attention to the Christmas Eve meal. First,
an antipasto of cheeses, olives and perhaps shrimp and cuttlefish is served
with white wine. Then pasta in a tomato
sauce made with clams is presented. A
red wine will accompany it. The “second
plate” will feature a variety of fish and seafood – always cod and usually lobster. Salad is served on the side or after the main
dish. Fruit is then brought to the table.
The meal concludes with cakes, coffee, and liqueurs. No meat is given perhaps because abstinence
was mandated for many centuries on Christmas Eve. It also is true that by featuring fish, a
symbol of Christ, the banquet anticipates midnight Mass. In these ways Italians approximate the
celestial banquet of which Isaiah tells in today’s first reading.
Isaiah is giving comfort to the people of Israel. He or probably a later prophet has just
predicted the tumultuous “Day of the Lord.” Now God reveals His purpose. Judgment and punishment had to come so that all
peoples could love one another as children of the same Father. Jesus Christ has fulfilled this end by the
paschal event. He also has mandated that
his followers recreate the victory of love over sin by a regular feast. So we come together for this Eucharist.
Our Christmas celebration should take on the meaning of
the celestial banquet feast. We should give
thanks to God for the blessing of so many kinds of sisters and brothers. Perhaps we can invite people of other
cultures and even faith traditions to our Christmas table. There we may share the hope that the entire
world will soon live together in peace. Of
course, we will leave the table charged to bring that peace into our daily
lives.
