Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Wednesday, 3 December 2014

Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Meditation - Matthew 15:29-31 After Jesus returned, he walked along Lake Galilee and then climbed a mountain and took his place, ready to receive visitors. They came, tons of them, bringing along the paraplegic, the blind, the maimed, the mute—all sorts of people in need—and more or less threw them down at Jesus’ feet to see what he would do with them. He healed them. When the people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the paraplegics walking around, the blind looking around, they were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them.
32 But Jesus wasn’t finished with them. He called his disciples and said, “I hurt for these people. For three days now they’ve been with me, and now they have nothing to eat. I can’t send them away without a meal—they’d probably collapse on the road.”
33 His disciples said, “But where in this deserted place are you going to dig up enough food for a meal?”
34-39 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”
“Seven loaves,” they said, “plus a few fish.” At that, Jesus directed the people to sit down. He took the seven loaves and the fish. After giving thanks, he divided it up and gave it to the people. Everyone ate. They had all they wanted. It took seven large baskets to collect the leftovers. Over four thousand people ate their fill at that meal. After Jesus sent them away, he climbed in the boat and crossed over to the Magadan hills.
Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
They all ate and were satisfied. (Matthew 15:37)
Imagine if you walked into your local hospital and started praying over the patients for healing, and they all jumped out of their beds shouting for joy because they were healed. Wouldn’t you be astounded? Well, this is what the people who followed Jesus experienced. They were astonished when they saw “the lame walking, and the blind able to see” (Matthew 15:31).
Wherever he went, Jesus found people who were hurting. And in every case, he felt nothing but compassion for them. Love moved him to perform all those miracles—a love that longed to see his people made whole, a love that yearned to bring all the blessings of the kingdom into people’s lives. With every miracle, Jesus showed the people that God was nearer than they thought! He had broken through the barriers of sin, sickness, and death, just to be with them.
Today’s story of the loaves and fishes shows that God loves us too much to leave us feeling hungry or defeated. On that day, Jesus blessed the bread, broke it, and shared it with his followers. Today, he does the same thing every time we gather for the Eucharist. Only now, he feeds us with his own Body and Blood, not just with physical food. Back then, he satisfied the people’s bodily hunger. Now, he satisfies our inner hunger—our hunger for love, for mercy, for companionship, and, yes, for healing.
Is there an area in your life where you need a miracle or a healing? Don’t be afraid to come to Jesus and ask. Surely the people who ate the loaves and fishes weren’t bashful about their needs. Go ahead and imitate them. Sit with Jesus during Mass and listen to his word. Look with wonder as the priest lifts the Host and chalice to your heavenly Father. Then come and receive, with your heart wide open, and take a leap of faith as you do. Be expectant. Ask Jesus to fill you and heal you. Even if you don’t see anything happen right away, believe that he is still at work in you. Remember, you have received Christ himself. He is with you, and he is in you. Wait patiently, and he will show you just how close he is.
“Thank you, Jesus, for all the little and big miracles that you are performing in my life.” Amen!
Isaiah 25:6-8 But here on this mountain, God-of-the-Angel-Armies
    will throw a feast for all the people of the world,
A feast of the finest foods, a feast with vintage wines,
    a feast of seven courses, a feast lavish with gourmet desserts.
And here on this mountain, God will banish
    the pall of doom hanging over all peoples,
The shadow of doom darkening all nations.
    Yes, he’ll banish death forever.
And God will wipe the tears from every face.
    He’ll remove every sign of disgrace
From his people, wherever they are.
    Yes! God says so!
9-10 Also at that time, people will say,
    “Look at what’s happened! This is our God!
We waited for him and he showed up and saved us!
    This God, the one we waited for!
Let’s celebrate, sing the joys of his salvation.
    God’s hand rests on this mountain!”
10-12 As for the Moabites, they’ll be treated like refuse,
    waste shoveled into a cesspool.
Thrash away as they will,
    like swimmers trying to stay afloat,
They’ll sink in the sewage.
    Their pride will pull them under.
Their famous fortifications will crumble to nothing,
    those mighty walls reduced to dust.
Psalm 23: A David Psalm
1-3 God, my shepherd!
    I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
    you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
    you let me catch my breath
    and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through
    Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
    when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
    makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner
    right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me
    every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
    for the rest of my life.
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