HE HAS PROMISED, HE WILL NEVER FAIL; HIS FAITHFULNESS IS FOREVER SURE. (Homily for Wednesday of the 1st Week in Advent, Year C.)


Bible Study: Isaiah 25, 6 to 10. And Matthew 15, 29 to 37.


Our first reading today flows directly into our Gospel passage. Looking at both readings, we can see how Isaiah prophesied and how this prophesy of Isaiah came to pass almost word for word in the feeding of the 4,000 by Jesus Christ in the Gospel passage.

Perhaps a little analysis would give us a deeper understanding: In Isaiah 25, 6 to 8, we read:  On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah spoke about a MOUNTAIN. In Matthew 15 verse 29, we read: “And Jesus went on from there and passed along the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the MOUNTAIN, and sat down there.”

Isaiah said the Lord of Hosts will make a feast for all peoples. In Matthew 13 verse 30 to 31, we read: “And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the dumb, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the throng wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.” The feast eventually began with healing and restoration of health to many who had been deprived of living in sound health as a result of sickness and deformities. In this way, Jesus wiped out their tears and took away the reproach they suffered due to their sickness.

Then true to the very words of Isaiah, Jesus proceeded to feed the people with real physical food. As Matthew 15, 32 to 36 puts it, “Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have COMPASSION on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and I AM UNWILLING TO SEND THEM AWAY HUNGRY, lest they faint on the way." And the disciples said to him, "Where are we to get bread enough in the desert to feed so great a crowd?"  34 And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." And commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied.

Dear friends, the Good News of Christmas is the joy that the God we serve is a God who fulfils his promises, a God who is willing to do anything to save mankind from destruction even to the extent of becoming a fellow man like us. The joy that we celebrate at Christmas is the joy that God truly cares.

As you receive Holy Communion today, receive it with faith and joy knowing that this is an act of God literally feeding you with his very body and blood on this mountain. Know that Isaiah’s prophecy is been fulfilled in your life as you share in the Eucharistic banquet and if this is happening, then nothing will stop God’s promises as contained in the Scripture from coming to pass in your life.

Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving yourself to me. May I ever partake of this great banquet here on earth and in heaven as well. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. 

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