GOD WILL WIPE AWAY TEARS…

Isaiah 25:6-10

6 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.7 And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.8 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.
9 It will be said on that day, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trodden down in his place, as straw is trodden down in a dung-pit.

Matthew 15:29-37

29 And Jesus went on from there and passed along the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain, and sat down there.30 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,31 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.
32 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.”
33 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.”35 And commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground,
36 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.
37 And they all ate and were satisfied; and they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.  

MEDITATION

ISAIAH PROPHECY that the Messiah is preparing a stupendous feast, that shall see the abolition of death, the drying of tears and the abolition of sadness, pain and suffering to reunite the people to Himself. The people are implored to apply patience as we look forward to the festive day of salvation. 

THE GOSPEL READING: People from all walks of life; young and old, healthy and sick, with all manner of dilibitating shortcomings have gone on a retreat, separating themselves from their daily tasks to patiently observe three days of fasting and pastoral care that brought about healing and deliverance! Upon observing that the people were tired and hungry, Jesus could not in good conscience release the people to traverse the journey home through the desert to find something to eat, because it was late in the day. 

Advent is a period set aside by the Church for us the people to take time out of our busy days to fast and pray as we indulge and meditate upon the word of God, motivated by our desire to ‘clean up our act’ and be healed from our sinful ailments so that we be in a state of grace. Christ is mindful that we need to be fed with Eucharistic supernatural food that not only sustain our bodies, but supernatural food that absolve us from our venial sins, purify the soul and wipe away our tears of shame, replacing it with tears of relief and joy! Mt 26:26-28

LET US PRAY:Psalms 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER 
Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.