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     With Thanksgiving feasting still fresh in our minds (and stomachs by virtue of leftover turkey), Isaiah's image can take on additional significance!  But the key to understanding today's gospel scripture is "on this mountain."  The gospel today begins, "Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there."  He does two things that Isaiah foretells:  he makes the blind see and the lame walk and "wipes away the tears from all faces, and he multiplies the loaves and fishes to feed a multitude.  (Add to this the Sermon on the MOUNT in this same gospel!)The evangelist Matthew, throughout his gospel, is at pains to remind us that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the prophecies of hope.

     But the scripture is not meant to be simply ancient history about what Jesus DID.  It is meant to remind us of all that Jesus can DO if we continue his ministry.  The Advent/Christmas period that our secular culture portrays as "the holiday season" is anything but a holiday for so many.  The image of the Messiah who wipes away the tears from all faces is one that we can emulate.  The Messiah who heals and feeds can be personalized in each of us in this season (and throughout the year).  Advent is the season of hope and we can put skin on that hope!  AMEN