Jesus feeds the crowds with seven loaves and a few fish

December 2, 2015

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

Saints of the Day: Saint Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr (4th Century),  Blessed Ivan Slezyuk, Bishop (1896-1973)

Reading 1

Isaiah 25:6-10a

6On 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.[1]

7On this mountain He will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; 8He 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.

9On 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!” 10For 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.

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2In verdant pastures He gives me repose; beside restful waters He leads me; 3aHe refreshes my soul.

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

3bHe guides me in right paths for His name’s sake. 4Even 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.

5You 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. 

6Only 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.

Alleluia

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

29At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there.  30Great 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.

31The 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.

32Jesus 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.”[2]

33The disciples said to Him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?”

34Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” 35He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36Then 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.[3] 37They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full. 

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Notes on Readings:

[1] Isaiah 25:6] This mountain: Zion, symbol of the heavenly Jerusalem.

[2] Isaiah 25:10 - Moab: symbol of God's enemies.

[3] Matthew 15:32-39 - Most probably this story is a doublet of that of the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21). It differs from it notably only in that Jesus takes the initiative, not the disciples (Matthew 15:32), and in the numbers: the crowd has been with Jesus three days (Matthew 15:32), seven loaves are multiplied (Matthew 15:36), seven baskets of fragments remain after the feeding (Matthew 15:37), and four thousand men are fed (Matthew 15:38) .

[4] Matthew 15:36 - Gave thanks: see Matthew 14:19, "said the blessing." There is no difference in meaning. The thanksgiving was a blessing of God for his benefits.