Today’s Readings – Wednesday of Week 1 of Advent - First Reading

Commentary on Isaiah 25:6-10

Both readings today are about the abundance that comes from God. The theme of an eschatological banquet is common in early Jewish and early Christian literature. In Matthew’s Gospel, after healing the centurion’s servant, Jesus says:

I tell you, many will come from east and west and will take their places at the banquet with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven... (Matt 8:11-12)


And again, in Matthew (22:1-14) and in Luke (14:16-24), Jesus tells the parable of the banquet to which those invited made excuses not to come.

As in the Gospel parables, in our First Reading from Isaiah, there is a universal tone to the words:

The Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
… Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Tuesday of Week 1 of Advent - First Reading

Commentary on Isaiah 11:1-10

We have today a messianic poem describing the principal features of the coming Messiah:

he is of Davidic stock;
he will be filled with the spirit of the prophets who went before him;
he will establish a society reflecting the peace and harmony of God … Continue