Wednesday, December 6, 2023

(Optional) Memorial of Saint Nicholas, bishop

(Isaías 25: 6-10a; Matthew 15:29-37)

Considered a great saint in the eastern church, Nicholas is perhaps more universally known in the West.  Our Santa Claus is derived from this holy bishop renowned also for his generosity.  Whatever charity he bestowed, St. Nicholas would probably say that he was only doing what Jesus asks in the gospel.

Today’s passage shows Jesus tirelessly curing all the people’s ills.  Exhausting his disciples, he asks them what could be given the people for sustenance.  When they indicate that their provisions are scant, he demonstrates the unlimited amount of his supply.  Confidently he takes the seven loaves and two fish, gives thanks to his Father in heaven, and has it distributed among the people.  Of course, the whole multitude eats more than enough.

God is magnanimous with us.  He gives us more than we need to work out salvation.  It is good that we have a figure like Santa Claus indicating the bounty of God.  But it’s also a shame that he has replaced the Christ child as the central figure of Christmas in many homes.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

(Isaiah 25:6-10a; Matthew 15:29-37)

A generation ago it was said that the average American gained ten pounds over the year-end holidays. The added weight could hardly be less now. Perhaps, then, some will have difficulty appreciating Jesus’ concern about the people’s hunger in today’s gospel.

But just as the multiplying of loaves signifies the Eucharistic bread, so the hunger of the crowds is not so much physical as it is spiritual. Like people today, they crave meaning in their lives, acceptance of their efforts, and esteem for themselves as persons. Jesus fulfills all these needs. He loves each person who comes to him as an individual and invites all to join him in his Father’s kingdom.

The invitation does not come without expectation, however. If we are to join Jesus as his brothers and sisters, we must accept his help to live righteous lives. Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit that we might care for others with the same purity of heart that he loves us.

Wednesday, December 2, 2004

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.

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.

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.