Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Is 25:6-10; Mt 15:29-37
Today’s Gospel highlights Jesus’ compassion for those who follow him.
Scholars believe that the people healed by Jesus are possibly Gentiles. And the same people are fed in the second part of today’s Gospel.
The compassion of Jesus embraces the Gentiles who would be part of the regathered Israel.
The repeated number seven recalls the nations of Canaan (Acts 13:19) and the Greek servers (Acts 6:5). It indicates the incorporation of the Gentiles into the fulness of Israel.
What does Jesus’ compassion toward the Gentiles mean for us?
By practicing radical inclusion, Jesus shows that God’s favor extends to the Gentiles.
For this reason, welcoming Jesus in our midst at Christmas cannot happen as an exclusive event of the Christians alone.
The God with ‘us’ is inclusive of those who are relegated to the margins of society as well.
The joyous celebration of Christmas would be more meaningful if our welcoming of Jesus brought people together regardless of any differences.
The God of all should be welcomed by all.
Let us pray that our Christmas celebration may reflect the radical inclusion that Jesus practiced.
Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar
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