WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2009 - FIRST WEEK IN ADVENT
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.
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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.
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Why did Jesus perform all his miracles? Was it to prove that he was the
Messiah? If that was the reason he would not have told those who witnessed his
miracles to keep quiet about them. So why did he do them?
Today's Gospel passage tells us; it was because his heart was moved with pity.
It was out of compassion for those he met. He healed the sick because his heart
was moved with pity. He fed the thousands because his heart was moved with
pity. He even raised the dead because his heart was moved with pity.
Do you think Jesus' heart is no longer moved with pity when he sees suffering?
Of course it is. Jesus still has compassion on his people. He still wants to
heal our brokenness and provide for our needs. Why then do we lack trust? Why
do we sometimes think he doesn't care?
Often in our prayer we pray while thinking that no one is listening. We pray
not expecting any action. Perhaps we think Jesus really doesn't care about our
little problems. Perhaps we may even be unsure whether we really want our
prayers answered.
Whatever the reason is that we pray while lacking trust we need to remember that
Jesus does love us and his heart is still moved with pity. He wants us to ask
for what we need and he wants us to trust that he will respond.
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Lord Jesus I do believe you love me.
Help my unbelief. I give you all my needs and ask for your guidance in solving
my problems.
Deacon
Ed