Wednesday of the First Week in Advent
(Isaiah 25:6-10, Matthew 15:29-37)
Italians have a custom of eating a festive supper on Christmas Eve. It is meatless, to be sure, in honor of the ancient fast on the day before the celebration of the Lord’s coming. But it is hardly penitential. White wine is first served with the pasta and marinera sauce. A hearty red wine follows for the fish entrée. The menu goes on and on ending only with all partakers more than satisfied. The feast resembles the Lord’s promise announced by Isaiah in the first reading today.
God wants to console His people. He promises them that the punishment for their inequity will end in glory. They will forget about destruction and death as they again come to the mountain of the Lord. As the Lord once provided them more than enough manna in the desert so will He throw a much more lavish banquet as they return to Him.
The gospel story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish shows a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus takes compassion on the people who follow him. Nothing is mentioned of rich foods or choice wines, but for people who are really hungry a meal of bread and fish will seem like the buffet brunch at the Ritz-Carlton. The people, it should be noted, do not go to Jesus for food but to learn God’s ways. They are more than satisfied. Jesus feeds their bodies as well as their souls.
Showing posts with label Isaiah 25:6-10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isaiah 25:6-10. Show all posts
Homilette for Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Memorial of St. Francis Xavier, priest
(Isaiah 25:6-10, Matthew 15:29-37)
During what the Church calls “Ordinary Time” weekday mass readings are not coordinated. In this long period she assigns a first reading and a gospel passage with different themes in order to give mass-goers maximum exposure to Scripture. During Advent, however, she selects a first reading from the Old Testament and a gospel to show how Jesus fulfills the anticipation of the people of Israel. Today, for example, the prophet Isaiah tells how God will prepare a banquet for all peoples in honor of lowly Israel who preserved faith in Him. In the gospel passage Jesus, a descendant of Israel, does just that. First, he assists those who are usually left out – the blind and the lame – as he addresses the masses. Then he feeds everyone large portions of bread and fish.
Because we can count on God to keep His promises, we ready ourselves for Christ’s return during Advent. But the preparations themselves convey special blessings. It is like the story Garrison Keillor tells of wintertime in rural Minnesota where he grew up. His school principal once matched children from the country with “snow parents” who would give them shelter in case a winter storm prevented their return home after school. Keillor remembers being assigned to a family whose house had a statue of the Blessed Virgin in its front yard. One afternoon when school was dismissed early and he was waiting for the school bus, he went to the house to meet the family. He introduced himself to the woman at the door simply as her “snow child.” The woman invited him in and told him to sit down while she called her husband. In the meantime, she brought him cookies and milk.
As Minnesotans in winter are sure to get heavy snowfalls, we can be sure of Christ’s eventual return in glory. Also, like Minnesotans preparing for snow, we ready ourselves for that climatic day during Advent. Finally, like the young Garrison Keillor, in our preparations we experience moments of grace.
(Isaiah 25:6-10, Matthew 15:29-37)
During what the Church calls “Ordinary Time” weekday mass readings are not coordinated. In this long period she assigns a first reading and a gospel passage with different themes in order to give mass-goers maximum exposure to Scripture. During Advent, however, she selects a first reading from the Old Testament and a gospel to show how Jesus fulfills the anticipation of the people of Israel. Today, for example, the prophet Isaiah tells how God will prepare a banquet for all peoples in honor of lowly Israel who preserved faith in Him. In the gospel passage Jesus, a descendant of Israel, does just that. First, he assists those who are usually left out – the blind and the lame – as he addresses the masses. Then he feeds everyone large portions of bread and fish.
Because we can count on God to keep His promises, we ready ourselves for Christ’s return during Advent. But the preparations themselves convey special blessings. It is like the story Garrison Keillor tells of wintertime in rural Minnesota where he grew up. His school principal once matched children from the country with “snow parents” who would give them shelter in case a winter storm prevented their return home after school. Keillor remembers being assigned to a family whose house had a statue of the Blessed Virgin in its front yard. One afternoon when school was dismissed early and he was waiting for the school bus, he went to the house to meet the family. He introduced himself to the woman at the door simply as her “snow child.” The woman invited him in and told him to sit down while she called her husband. In the meantime, she brought him cookies and milk.
As Minnesotans in winter are sure to get heavy snowfalls, we can be sure of Christ’s eventual return in glory. Also, like Minnesotans preparing for snow, we ready ourselves for that climatic day during Advent. Finally, like the young Garrison Keillor, in our preparations we experience moments of grace.
Homilette for Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Wednesday, I Week of Advent
(Isaiah 25:6-10, Matthew 15:29-37)
Some day take note of the mass readings during ordinary time. You will almost always find divergent ideas in the first reading and the gospel. The two were not selected for their correspondence but to give us exposure to different expressions of Scripture.
Uncoordinated mass readings are not found during Advent, however. During this season the first reading always anticipates the gospel selection. Together they show how God’s promise to Israel was fulfilled with the coming of Christ. Today, for example, we hear from the prophet Isaiah how God will prepare a banquet for all nations which will exalt lowly Israel for keeping faith. In the gospel passage Jesus, symbolically at least, does just that. First, he assists those who are usually left out – the blind and the lame. And then he feeds the whole crowd large portions of bread and fish.
We can always count on God to keep His promises. Because Christ has promised to return with salvation for his faithful, we ready ourselves to receive him during the season of Advent. In a sense it is like an emergency drill. We prepare ourselves for an eventuality so that when it takes place, we will know what to do. But in the case of Advent the preparations themselves convey many blessings. Garrison Keillor tells a story that illustrates what I mean here. In the rural Minnesota town where he grew up, a zealous principal once assigned houses in town to all the schoolchildren from the country in case a snowstorm ever prohibited buses from taking them home. Keillor himself remembered the house to which he was assigned because of the statue of the Blessed Virgin on its front lawn. One afternoon with nothing to do, he went to meet the family of the house. He introduced himself to the woman at the door simply as her “snow child.” The woman asked him in and to sit down while she called her husband. In the meantime, she brought him cookies and milk.
As Minnesotans in winter are sure to get heavy snow, we can be sure of Christ’s eventual return in glory. Just like them we prepare for the day in the season of Advent. And again like the child Garrison Keillor, in our preparation we experience a moment of grace. Something happens that will be a sure sign of God’s love.
(Isaiah 25:6-10, Matthew 15:29-37)
Some day take note of the mass readings during ordinary time. You will almost always find divergent ideas in the first reading and the gospel. The two were not selected for their correspondence but to give us exposure to different expressions of Scripture.
Uncoordinated mass readings are not found during Advent, however. During this season the first reading always anticipates the gospel selection. Together they show how God’s promise to Israel was fulfilled with the coming of Christ. Today, for example, we hear from the prophet Isaiah how God will prepare a banquet for all nations which will exalt lowly Israel for keeping faith. In the gospel passage Jesus, symbolically at least, does just that. First, he assists those who are usually left out – the blind and the lame. And then he feeds the whole crowd large portions of bread and fish.
We can always count on God to keep His promises. Because Christ has promised to return with salvation for his faithful, we ready ourselves to receive him during the season of Advent. In a sense it is like an emergency drill. We prepare ourselves for an eventuality so that when it takes place, we will know what to do. But in the case of Advent the preparations themselves convey many blessings. Garrison Keillor tells a story that illustrates what I mean here. In the rural Minnesota town where he grew up, a zealous principal once assigned houses in town to all the schoolchildren from the country in case a snowstorm ever prohibited buses from taking them home. Keillor himself remembered the house to which he was assigned because of the statue of the Blessed Virgin on its front lawn. One afternoon with nothing to do, he went to meet the family of the house. He introduced himself to the woman at the door simply as her “snow child.” The woman asked him in and to sit down while she called her husband. In the meantime, she brought him cookies and milk.
As Minnesotans in winter are sure to get heavy snow, we can be sure of Christ’s eventual return in glory. Just like them we prepare for the day in the season of Advent. And again like the child Garrison Keillor, in our preparation we experience a moment of grace. Something happens that will be a sure sign of God’s love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)