December 5, 2012

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

Lectionary: 177

Reading 1 from the Holy Book of Isaiah
Is 25:6-10a

On this mountain the LORD of hostswill provide for all peoplesA feast of rich food and choice wines,juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.

Heaven is frequently portrayed as being on a mountain.  Heaven is also frequently portrayed as a feast.  The Mass is also likened to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.  Wherein we are united to Christ.

On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,

The veil that veils all people.  To me that refers to the veil that keeps us from seeing God face to face.  The sinful flesh:

Hebrews 10:19-21
King James Version (KJV)
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

The web that is woven over all nations;he will destroy death forever.

The web over all the nations is a snare.  A trap.  There are three enemies which we have, the devil, the flesh and the world.  Any of these or all of these together, fit the description of a web which is woven over all people.  God will destroy this web.

The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.

God will forgive and wash away our sins and therefore, our reproach.  And our tears of repentance He will wipe away.

On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

On that day, all who love God, will rejoice and be glad.  For they will be united to their Beloved.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

These readings are appropriate for Advent, since we anticipate our union with Him, in heaven, for eternity.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
Mt 15:29-37

At that time:
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,
and they glorified the God of Israel.

This is a beautiful picture of the attitude we should all have when we approach Jesus in the Sacraments.  We should have the same kind of faith as these people who brought their ill and lame to be cured by Jesus.

Jesus summoned his disciples and said,"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,for they have been with me now for three daysand have nothing to eat.I do not want to send them away hungry,for fear they may collapse on the way."

Jesus said to His disciples that He didn't want the people who were seeking Him to go away without sustenance.  To me, this is a figure of our going to Mass, where Christ feeds us with His Word and then with His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.  He wants us all to go home, well fed.

The disciples said to him,
"Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?"
Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"
"Seven," they replied, "and a few fish."
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over--seven baskets full.

The disciples saw a miracle that day.  Jesus fed the 5000 with  seven loaves and a few fish.  And there were seven baskets of crumbs and fragments left over.

Sincerely,

De Maria