Complete

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120617.cfm) reminds me that God thinks of our spiritual and physical nourishment. 

The gospel tells us one of the more famous gospels – Jesus feeding a lot of people. We see Jesus feeding the people not just physically when he multiplied food for them, but first, spiritually which was the primary food he gave them even before the physical food. Then when it was late and dark already, Christ gave them physical food for their bodies.

God loves us so much that he gives us not only spiritual nourishment, but also physical nourishment. 

Love is the reason for this season. Love is the reason why we are celebrating Christmas - God sent his only Son to save us from our sins. Love should also be our primary reason for living – to spread God’s love to each other. The first reading reminds us that God saved us, and a good way to thank him is by passing that saving love to others. And one way of loving one another is to care and share what we have with one another – which what other people said about the gospel, that the miracle is not Jesus multiplying food, but the real miracle is the hearts of the people were changed and the shared food with each other because of love.

May we be inspired to not only nourish our bodies, but more importantly, our spirit. May we allow God to transform us and expand our hearts so we can share more and love more – to make him more alive here.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder that you norish not only our body but our spirit as well. Lord, I ask that you be with me in a special way today. Help me always be reminded to nourish not only my body, but more importantly, my spirit. Lord, it is easy to know and be reminded when my body is weak, when I am hungry, but not as easy to detect spiritual hunger…so I ask you Lord that you disturb me, wake me up and give me warnings when my spirit is running low, when I am spiritually hungry. And Lord, may I be sensitive and respond to it. Amen

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 6, 2017
Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 177

Reading 1IS 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 PsalmPS 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.

Alleluia 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMT 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.