The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to thanksgiving for the care of God for our fears and the invitation of Jesus to fullness of life.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah offers praise for God’s Deliverance and the Celebration in Zion that will swallow up death forever.
* [25:1–9] These verses praise God for carrying out his plan to destroy the enemy and to save the poor of his people in Zion (14:32), and they announce the victory banquet to be celebrated in the Lord’s city.
* [25:6] This mountain: i.e., Jerusalem’s mountain, Zion.
* [25:10–12] Moab: one of Israel’s bitterest enemies. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 23 praises the Divine Shepherd.
* [Psalm 23] God’s loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Ps 23:1–4) and a host’s generosity toward a guest (Ps 23:5–6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Is 40:11; 49:10; Jer 31:10).
* [23:1] My shepherd: God as good shepherd is common in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (Ez 34:11–16; Jn 10:11–18).
* [23:3] Right paths: connotes “right way” and “way of righteousness.”
* [23:5] You set a table before me: this expression occurs in an exodus context in Ps 78:19. In front of my enemies: my enemies see that I am God’s friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Ps 104:15; Mt 26:7; Lk 7:37, 46; Jn 12:2).
* [23:6] Goodness and mercy: the blessings of God’s covenant with Israel. (Psalms, PSALM 23 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Cures Many People and Feeds the Four Thousand.
* [15:32–39] Most probably this story is a doublet of that of the feeding of the five thousand (Mt 14:13–21). It differs from it notably only in that Jesus takes the initiative, not the disciples (Mt 15:32), and in the numbers: the crowd has been with Jesus three days (Mt 15:32), seven loaves are multiplied (Mt 15:36), seven baskets of fragments remain after the feeding (Mt 15:37), and four thousand men are fed (Mt 15:38).
* [15:36] Gave thanks: see Mt 14:19, “said the blessing.” There is no difference in meaning. The thanksgiving was a blessing of God for his benefits. (Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Vivian Amu comments that our lives are changing in ways we may or may not be aware of---friendships evolving, people waiting on news---good or bad, transitions, friends dying and rising into a new life. We are uncertain about things, so we find ourselves cat-napping---spiritually asleep, but with our eyes wide open so that no one knows our secret---that we are afraid and that our faith is no longer like that of a child. Just when we begin to feel exhausted from the year, we are called to attention, and God says through the scriptures, "I am near."
Loving God, we are grateful you are near. Refresh and nourish our souls, heal our wounds, and meet us at our mountain. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen. (Amu, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The joy of the hope rooted in Christ,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"Having said that the Lord will reign in Zion and Jerusalem, Isaiah leads us to the mystical meaning of the passage (Isaiah 25:6-10). Thus Zion is interpreted as a high place that is good for surveillance, and Jerusalem is the vision of the world. In fact, the church of Christ combines both: it is high and visible from everywhere, and is, so to speak, located on the mountain. The church may be understood as high also in another way: there is nothing low in it, it is far removed from all the mundane things, as it is written, 'I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!' (Psalm 47:7-8). Equally elevated are its orthodox and divine doctrines; thus the doctrine about God or about the holy and consubstantial Trinity is true, pure and without guile.
"'The Lord of hosts will make for all people,' not just for the Israelites elected for the sake of their patriarchs but for all the people of the world. What will he make? 'A feast of wines on the lees; they will drink joy, they will drink wine. They will be anointed with myrrh on the mountain.' This joy, of course, means the joy of hope, of the hope rooted in Christ, because we will reign with him, and with him we will enjoy every spiritual joy and pleasure that surpasses mind and understanding. By 'wine' he points to the mystical sacrament, that of the bloodless sacrifice, which we celebrate in the holy churches." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 25:6-7) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 15:29-37 comments that God is the best of all parents, and he doesn’t require perfection. He simply asks us to give him what we have, whatever strength and energy we can muster, and let him take care of the rest. He enjoys bringing us alongside him and working together with us. He “takes delight in his people” (Psalm 149:4)!
Sometimes it can be quicker and easier for parents to do things themselves instead of enlisting the help of their children. Likewise, there surely are more efficient ways for God to work in the world. And yet he chooses to work with us—with you. Even if you “make a mess,” he is ready and able to build something beautiful with you. He delights in blessing you and countless others as you offer your gifts to him. Come with me! he calls. Let’s see what we can build today!
“Thank you, Lord, that you enjoy my company. I give you all that I have today.” (Meditation on Matthew 15:29-37, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler describes the banquet in Isaiah that is offered to all the nations. Isaiah 24-27 presents an attitude associated with “second Isaiah” that is universalist and has death being destroyed. In Matthew, Jesus feeding the four thousand with seven baskets, the perfect number, leftover indicates care for the community of all people
Barbara Holmes notes that Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–1972) is known for his prophetic action and commitment to “radical amazement.” Theologian Bruce Epperly explains that Heschel lived out a holistic balance of delight and awe, radical amazement, and prophetic challenge.
The world presents itself in two ways to me. The world as a thing I own, the world as a mystery I face. What I own is a trifle, what I face is sublime. I am careful not to waste what I own; I must learn not to miss what I face.
We manipulate what is available on the surface of the world; we must also stand in awe before the mystery of the world. We objectify Being but we also are present at Being in wonder, in radical amazement.
All we have is a sense of awe and radical amazement in the face of a mystery that staggers our ability to sense it….
Awe is more than an emotion; it is a way of understanding, insight into a meaning greater than ourselves. The beginning of awe is wonder, and the beginning of wisdom is awe.
Awe is an intuition for the dignity of all things, a realization that things not only are what they are but also stand, however remotely, for something supreme. Awe is a sense for the … mystery beyond all things. It enables us … to sense in small things the beginning of infinite significance, to sense the ultimate in the common and the simple; to feel in the rush of the passing the stillness of the eternal. What we cannot comprehend by analysis, we become aware of in awe.
Faith is not belief, an assent to a proposition; faith is attachment to transcendence, to the meaning beyond the mystery. (Holmes, 2023)
We are reminded, on the anniversary of the Halifax Explosion, of the heroic response of so many from near and far to the disaster, that inspires our compassion and care for others.
References
Amu, V. (2023, December 6). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/120623.html
Holmes, B. (2023, December 6). The Dignity of All Things — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-awe-that-connects-2/
Isaiah, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/25?6
Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/15?29
Meditation on Matthew 15:29-37. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/12/06/843031/
Psalms, PSALM 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/23?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). This Is the Lord - We Have Waited for Him. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=dec6
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