Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
Bread for the Poor
Liturgical Cycle: B | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
For Isaiah the sign of the messianic times is that through the Messiah God will give to his people an abundance of food and drink. People long for life, for peace. Prisoners want to be free, the blind want to see, the hungry want bread. But likewise, people hunger for consolation, friendship, forgiveness, understanding, acceptance, and justice. These desires are fulfilled when Jesus, the Messiah, comes. He gives food to his hungry people. And we, his disciples, have to satisfy the hunger of God’s people today. For he acts through us.
Opening Prayer
God of all people,
you know how people hunger and thirst
for truth, love and acceptance.
If we accept you and believe in you,
we see our deepest longings and aspirations
fulfilled by you
as we work for the coming of your kingdom.
Help us to let the cup that you pour for us
overflow on all your people,
that all may praise you
now and for ever.
First Reading
On this mountain, the Lord Sabaoth will prepare a feast of rich food and choice wines, meat full of marrow, and fine wine strained for all peoples.
On this mountain he will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations,
and death will be no more. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; he will take away the humiliation of his people all over the world: for the Lord has spoken.
On that day you will say: This is our God. We have waited for him to save us; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
For on this mountain the hand of the Lord rests. Moab instead will be trodden down, as straw is trodden down on a dunghill.
Responsorial Psalm
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.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Multiple Healings
From there, Jesus traveled to the shore of Lake Galilee and then went up into the hills, where he sat down.
Great crowds gathered around him, bringing the deaf, the blind, the lame, the crippled, and many others with various illnesses. People carried them to Jesus, and he healed all of them.
Everyone was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the lame walking, the crippled healed, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Feeding the Four Thousand
Jesus called his disciples and said to them, “I am filled with compassion for these people; they have already followed me for three days and now have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away fasting, or they may faint on the way.”
His disciples asked him, “And where shall we find enough bread in this wilderness to feed such a crowd?”
Jesus asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
Jesus ordered the people to sit on the ground.
Then, he took the seven loaves and the small fish, gave thanks to God, broke them, and handed them to his disciples to distribute to the people.
They all ate until they were satisfied, and the remaining pieces filled seven wicker baskets.
Prayers of the Faithful
– That people everywhere may have open eyes to see and alleviate the miseries and hungers of others, we pray:
– That we may give not only bread or rice to the hungry, but love and justice, we pray:
– That the Lord may help us to look up to him for the food that makes us richer persons, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God of all people,
Jesus is among us
and he sets for us the bread and the wine
of his total self-giving.
May this holy meal fill us with his Spirit
and make us people
who live not for themselves
but, like Jesus, for others,
even when the cost is high.
May this be our offering to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God, our Father,
The Lord for whom we were waiting
has been with us, Jesus, your Son.
He has filled us with rich food
and the joyful wine of himself.
May he put us back on our feet,
that strengthened by this food
we may go out to the poor,
the lame and the weak of our day
to give them the food of our understanding,
of our compassion and our love,
by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
The sign that Jesus, the Messiah, is present among his people is that the hungry are fed. Among us today, do we feed them? Do we care for people and give them what they need? May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 15:29-37
Witness and Participate
In this passage, we witness a powerful demonstration of Jesus's compassion and provision. He goes up a mountainside, and large crowds bring the sick, the lame, the blind, and many others to him. Jesus responds not only with healing but also with a deep sense of empathy, recognizing the physical and spiritual needs of the people.
The multitude stays with Jesus for three days, highlighting their hunger for both physical and spiritual nourishment. In the wilderness, Jesus miraculously feeds them with seven loaves and a few small fish, emphasizing the abundance that flows from His hands.
The act of taking the seven loaves and fish, giving thanks, breaking them, and distributing to the crowds mirrors the pattern of the Last Supper. This prefigures the sacrificial nature of Jesus's life and foreshadows the Eucharistic celebration, where Christ offers Himself for the sustenance of His people.
The leftovers, collected in seven baskets, signify not only the abundance of God's provision but also the completeness and perfection in Christ. Seven, a biblical symbol of perfection, emphasizes the divine fullness in Jesus's ministry.
This miracle speaks to the inclusivity of God's grace. The crowd is diverse, representing different needs, backgrounds, and conditions. In Christ, there is provision for all, and no one is excluded from His compassionate care.
As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of Christ's ability to meet our needs, both physical and spiritual. His compassion knows no bounds, and in Him, we find abundance. The call for us is to bring our needs to Him, trusting in His provision, and to be instruments of His love and generosity in the world. May we, like the disciples, witness and participate in the miraculous outpouring of God's grace in the lives of those around us.