Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
(Isaiah 25:6-10a; Matthew 15:29-37)
For the lonely and the depressed, this time
of year is far from merry. For them it is
the most trying of seasons. Most people want
to be near loved ones now. But those who
feel loveless or incapable of loving want to cry out in complaint. Today’s gospel shows Jesus caring for them.
Before Jesus gives the bread and fish for
all to feast upon, he heals the people’s afflictions. He makes “the lame, the
blind, the mute and many others” whole.
Only when this work is finished does he provide a meal that they will
never forget. He is not just feeding the
people. He is giving them the
everlasting life foreseen in today’s reading from Isaiah. They enter eternal life whole, free, and
thankful.
Jesus means to heal us also. All of us suffer. One out of every one of us is hurting. We call out to him in prayer to ask for help. In quite unexpected ways he comes bringing us
the fullness of life forever.
