Gospel: December 4, 2024
December 4, 2024 (Wednesday)
1st Week of Advent
Psalter: Week 1/ (Violet/White)
St. John of Damascus, priest
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5-6
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
1st Reading: Isaiah 25: 6-10a
Gospel: Matthew 15: 29-37
From there, Jesus went to the shore of Lake Galilee, and then went up into the hills, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the dumb, the blind, the lame, the crippled, and many with other infirmities. People carried them to the feet of Jesus, and he healed them. All were astonished when they saw the dumb speaking, the lame walking, the crippled healed, and the blind able to see; and they glorified the God of Israel.
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 said to him, “And where shall we find enough bread in this wilderness to feed such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They answered, “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, and gave thanks to God. He broke them and gave them to his disciples, who distributed them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the leftover pieces filled seven wicker baskets.
Reflection:
“Jesus is filled with compassion.”
There are two different events generally classified as the feeding of the five thousand (Mk 6:31-44; Mt 14:13-21; Lk 9:12-17; Jn 6:1-14) and the feeding of the four thousand (Mk 8:1-9; Mt 15:32- 39). Only Mark and Matthew have accounts on the feeding of the four thousand. Today’s Gospel is the Matthean account, which is basically a Markan material. In these parallel accounts, it was Jesus himself who expressed that he had compassion for the people. Jesus did not want to send the people away hungry for they may faint along the way. In his Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis challenges us to help resolve the age-old problem of disregarding the other by bringing back our sense of care for one another (cf. FT 57). During this season of Advent, we prepare ourselves to celebrate the great mystery of the incarnation—the ultimate salvific act of God, when God communicated himself as the God who truly cares for us. In our faith journey, God does not only sustain but also guides us in every step we make to ensure that we shall arrive at our destination.
