December 1
Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
7:45 AM – Parishioners of Holy Cross
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Isaiah 25:6-10a
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.
On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Gospel Acclamation
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 15:29-37
At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.
“I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”
Reflection
I should’ve mentioned this earlier…a reminder when we are in seasons of Advent, Lent, etc. the Church envisions that we make the intentional connections between the first reading and the Gospel in our daily Mass readings.
With that being said…
The familiar passage of Jesus and the multiplication of the loaves and fish…ah! But now in the context of Isaiah 25. As Pope Benedict XVI loved to point out for us, Jesus reveals the face of the Father. Our readings today remind us just what to expect from the face of our Heavenly Father…A God of abundance. God with a face capable of transforming despair into hope. With a simple glance, we are invited to gaze upon the ultimate source of our being when we see our Lord in the Eucharist.
He does more than simply heal physical ailments, but rather he restores joy. He doesn’t just come with a temporary solution, but he is and brings for us, salvation. Not simply food and drink that doesn’t satisfy—but rather the choicest of food and wine for a feast (Isa 25:6); a feast that sustains beyond physical hunger.
Take it from Jesus himself who says today: “I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.”
Take a break from being inundated by worldly things that seek to fill us…I won’t even list them, I know you know what they are!
Jesus feeds us daily with his body, blood, soul and divinity, and he sustains us with his Word. As we continue to embark on this new Advent journey—be intentional to offer Jesus the space to feed you—really feed you—with himself. And why not, give him 5 minutes of silence today. He will bestow his abundance upon you.
Bl. Charles de Foucauld…pray for us! (Canonization coming May 15, 2022!)
Peace,
Fr. Foley
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