The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on our anointing to act to feed the spiritual and physical hunger of all God’s people.
The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah offers Praise for God’s Deliverance.
* [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. (“Isaiah, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB,” n.d.)
Psalm 23 is a psalm of David.
* [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.)
The Gospel of Matthew proclaims The Feeding of 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.)
Rev. Elvin Cardoso, SJ, asks today “How can we become living signs of God’s love to others?”
Perhaps we can rethink our understanding of mission. Most of us will never be asked to journey to distant continents like Saint Francis Xavier or to preach in foreign lands. Our vocation will likely unfold in the ordinary spaces where we already stand: our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighbourhoods. Yet these everyday places have their own “Tyre and Sidon moments” when we encounter people whose experiences differ from ours, or individuals who carry wounds we cannot see, or situations that invite courage, patience, and prayer. To be missionary in spirit is to imitate Christ’s willingness to go beyond the familiar, to reach out and serve a particular need. It is believed that God’s love can flow through our words, actions, and even our silence. (Cardoso, n.d.)
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 Advent is a special time of expectation and longing, but it can also be a very busy time. You don’t have the time to imitate the crowds and follow Jesus up a mountain. But the good news is that you don’t have to! Jesus can come to you.
No matter how he does it, you can be sure that Jesus wants to bring you closer to himself. You can trust him to know best how to accomplish that for you.
And when he does, be sure to follow the example of the crowds in today’s Gospel: glorify the God of Israel!
“Jesus, I believe that you still do amazing works today. So I come to you with an open heart and ask you to show me your power to heal and restore!” (“Meditation on Matthew 15:29-37,” n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Isaiah 25 is in the middle of chapters that the Prophet may not have written. Scholars believe chapters 24-27 were added to birth the idea of the resurrection of the dead and we will be invited into eternity. Prior to this Sheol was a destination for the after life and here in Isaiah we are invited to His Mountain. In Matthew’s Gospel people from all over were healed and nourished in two multiplications of food; for Jews twelve baskets are remaining, and here seven baskets, the perfect number, for every nation on the earth. Friar Jude notes that in Matthew, written to a Jewish audience, Jesus has come for all people.
Fr. Mike Schmitz unpacks the events in Acts 16, describing Paul’s trust in the Lord as God frees him from prison. He connects St. Paul’s conversation about spiritual gifts to the well-known “love” chapter in 1 Corinthians, explaining how love and donation of self gives purpose to the spiritual gifts. Today’s readings are Acts 16, 1 Corinthians 13-14, and Proverbs 28:13-15.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Spiritual seeker and writer Katie Gordon who reflects on the Magnificat, Mary’s prophetic song. Gordon visits a chapel located deep in the woods that features a statue of the pregnant Madonna accompanied by the words of the Magnificat.
When we sing that the hungry will be fed, I think of all the mutual aid efforts, soup kitchens, and neighbors who feed one another, not out of obligation but out of love and care.
When we sing that the humble will be upheld, I think of the dignity of immigrants and refugees, who amid the unjust and illegal deportations, are finding strength in their communities as people are protecting and fighting for one another day after day after day.
And finally, when we sing of the promise made to our ancestors, to Sarah and to Abraham, I try to remember far enough back to feel the covenantal belonging, this lineage of love that stretches before I was here and far beyond my own time. I’m reminded of my small part in this larger and longer story, of saying “yes” like Mary whenever I can, to bringing new and renewing life into our world, here and now. (Rohr, n.d.)
We implore the Spirit to guide our efforts as modern missionaries to bring love and compassion to others through our action to feed the hungry in body and spirit.
References
Cardoso, E. (n.d.). Creighton Online Ministries: Home. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-3-2025
Isaiah, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/25?6
Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/15?29
Meditation on Matthew 15:29-37. (n.d.). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/03/1438605/
Psalms, PSALM 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/23?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Echoing Mary’s Yes. Center for Action and Contemplation. https://cac.org/daily-meditations/responding-to-gods-yes/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). This Is the Lord - We Have Waited for Him. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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