Daily Catholic Lectio
Wed, 4 December ‘24
First Week of Advent – Wednesday
Isaiah 25:6-10. Psalm 23. Matthew 15:29-37
A banquet for me!
A medical camp was held at a centre where refugees and displaced people were staying. Among those standing in line to buy medicines for various ailments was a young girl. The doctor asked, “Child, what do you need? What ails you?” The girl replied, “If there is any medicine to keep me from being hungry, please give it!” She continued, “Sometimes they provide food at this centre, but many times there is no food or it is insufficient. I can’t sleep because of hunger. All I hear is crying everywhere.”
Hunger is a feeling we share with all living beings. Although hunger can be expressed in many forms – metaphorically – such as intellectual hunger and relational hunger, nothing is as cruel as physical hunger. Sometimes we willingly accept hunger—during fasting or medical treatment! At other times, we endure hunger—when traveling! “From the king to the common man, everyone feels hunger at noon,” says a Pattinathar, a Tamil Śaivite poet. The hunger that arises when the sun is at its peak and the sleep that comes when the moon is at its peak are common to all. Hunger and sleep do not discriminate. What we basically need are food and bed. Everything else—music, art, religion or faith, theology, metaphysics, philosophy, law—are mere luxuries!
“The Lord of hosts will prepare a feast on this mountain—Zion—for all people!” declares the prophecy of Isaiah (first reading). Everything is abundant at this feast. Those who come to this feast will have no sorrow in their eyes or hearts. This feast is open to everyone.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. My cup overflows,” sings David (Psalm 23, response). During wartime, kings yearn for food. They are anxious that if there is no food for their troops, the army will weaken. But at such a critical time, the Lord God prepares a feast as a gift. In the presence of the Lord, there is only abundance.
“I do not want to send them away hungry,” Jesus tells His disciples as He provides food for the crowd. The feeling of hunger transforms into fulfilment and abundance.
The Lord God not only satisfies the hunger of humans but also gives them abundance and joy.
The event of Christ’s birth takes place in the town of Bethlehem (“House of Bread”). The parents place the newborn child in a “manger.” Thus, the prophecy spoken by Isaiah is fulfilled in Jesus. He is born as food for humanity.
In the event of Jesus being tempted, He does not turn stones into bread; but here, He multiplies seven loaves and a few fish to feed the people. He stayed hungry in the wilderness, now He alleviates the hunger of others here.
From the Word to Life:
(1) “Be hungry” (be alone—be awake) is the advice given by Vallalar, another Śaivite philosopher. Let us accept the feeling of hunger as it is. Let us be conscious of that inner fire. When we do so we become humbler.
(2) When we provide food to those who are hungry, we become like God. Because, by helping the hungry person preserve their life, we are acting as God. When we see someone near us hungry when we are eating, we shall share our food.
(3) Food is a gift! “There is no concept called a free lunch” is an English saying. There is always some expectation or exchange involved when we offer food or a feast to someone else. However, God expects no exchange. Let us try to offer our lives as a gift to others. While there may be a sense of justice that we should receive a reward for our work, when our mindset rises to the level that no one can repay us for our work, we will begin to offer everything as a gift.
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“The pilgrims of hope” rejoice in staying hungry (Jubilee 2025, bite 264).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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