Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection December 04, 2024
First Week of Advent
04th December 2024 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 1
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. 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. 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.
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 (R. see 6cd)
R/. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 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. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” 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.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – First Week of Advent
Guidelines: Our God is a God who is compassionate. He understands our struggles and our tears. He will strengthen us and comfort us. Those who trust in Him and come to Him will never be disappointed
1. What a consoling picture of God we have in the Word of God today! God through His prophet emphatically promises thus: He will take away the veil of gloom cast over the peoples. He will wipe away tears from all faces.
2. He will knock away the reproach of his people. He will feed all peoples with a sumptuous banquet. He will swallow up death forever. His hand will rest on all those who come to Him. He will grant salvation.
3. All these are truly fulfilled in Jesus in the gospel. He heals all the sick that come to him. He made the mute speak, lame walk, blind see, and the crippled healthy. It is all because he is compassionate toward his people.
4. This is manifested in his miraculous feeding of four thousand. He multiplied seven loaves and a few small fish and still, seven baskets full of the broken pieces were leftover. This shows the abundance of God’s grace in love and compassion.
5. It is a compassionate heart that senses their hunger and decides to feed them lest they faint on the way back to their homes. He takes the initiative. His compassion does not get discouraged by the difficulty of the situation:
6. It was a desolate place and so distance constrains any procurement; so big a number as four thousand; so little available like seven loaves and a few small fish; the direct discouragement by the disciples who assess the situation and state that it is impossible to feed such a huge crowd.
7. His compassion blended with his divine power makes the little abundant and satisfies all. God’s compassionate intervention leads to abundant satisfaction. It is only in God that we find real abundance and satisfaction.
8. Those who approach God in faith and depend on him will never be disappointed. They will be fully satisfied. Not only to the full, even extra. They collected seven more baskets of leftovers.
Practice: Those who confide in God will never be sent away empty. They will be satisfied to the brim. They will be healed and nourished, strengthened and fulfilled