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The generosity of God

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), Isaiah 55:1-3. [Lectionary 112, July 31, 2005]

This Sunday we have a reading from Isaiah 55, the last chapter of the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, which was addressed to the exiles in Babylon toward the end of their time of trial.

Just three weeks ago, the lectionary gave us another reading from this same chapter. That reading was about the power and productivity of the word of God. This Sunday’s reading, from the very beginning of the chapter, is about God’s banquet.

The text seems to be divided into two parts. The first part is a call to come to and be nourished by God. God offers water, the basic necessity. God offers grain, the basic source of nourishment. God offers wine and milk, symbols of richness. And all of this is free! You don’t have to have resources! All are included in the invitation apart from their social standing or means. Money is not important here.

In the second part of our text we learn what is required for access to the Lord’s table: you have to listen. If you listen to God you will eat well, and you will have life, the most precious gift of all. Then, in a leap into a whole new dimension, God promises His people that the life He will give them will include the gifts that had been offered to David five hundred years before: that David and his people would dwell in peace, that his kingdom would last forever, that God’s favor would be with David’s family always (cf. II Samuel 7:8-16 and Psalm 89).

There are several things to notice in this reading. First of all is the urgency of God’s invitation. "Come ... come ... come ... heed me ... come": this string of imperatives suggests that God is like an importunate host who simply can do enough for those he is inviting to his party. "Dig in and enjoy! Have a good time! I don’t want you to be without anything!" All God asks is that His people answer the invitation.

Next, it’s worth noting that what God offers is not being offered to a small, exclusive group. The food and drink, the sharing in David’s promises are promised to all who want them, to all who thirst. And these blessings are offered "without paying and without cost" to all.

What God is saying here is that the messianic blessings that are imaged in the food and drink and the promises made to David have not been invalidated by Israel’s defeat and exile. They are still available. They will be renewed for God’s whole people, indeed, for all peoples.

It is clear that those who prepared the lectionary saw a fulfillment of these promises of Isaiah 55 in the feeding of the five thousand men in this Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 14:13-21). God’s promise was now being fulfilled. The messianic banquet had begun.

These two readings about the messianic banquet are rich in meaning. For one thing, they speak of God’s goodness to His people. Be they a band of exiles whose spirit had been broken by defeat or a formless crowd of people in need, God will take care of them and give them what they need.

Another dimension that these readings suggest is God’s generosity. In the first reading God urges His people to take advantage of what’s being offered. It doesn’t matter if you can’t pay. Just come and enjoy and you will have life and share in the covenant made to David.

In the Gospel reading we see Jesus recklessly inviting five thousand men to dinner, plus their wives and children, feeding them effortlessly and having great quantities left over after the meal. Generosity indeed!

We should understand both of these readings as directing our attention to the Eucharist. In this sacred meal we receive the body and blood, soul and divinity of the risen Lord. It provides us all the spiritual energy and nourishment we need. It is freely given by God. We can’t earn it or deserve it. Our participation in the Eucharist strengthens our ties to God’s people, to the final state of fulfillment of the promises that God made to David. And it is all brought about by the same Lord Jesus who was moved with compassion for the hungry of His time and fed them abundantly.
It seems that God can’t do enough for us. His goodness is generously bestowed to call us into association with His messianic people. He urges us to take part in the banquet which, in its final form, is nothing less than a sharing in His own life.

For reflection and discussion.

How have I experienced God’s generosity?

How do I respond to God’s generosity?



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	*Overtures* Reflection on the first readings of the Sunday liturgy By Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk The generosity of God Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), Isaiah 55:1-3. [Lectionary 112, July 31, 2005] This Sunday we have a reading from Isaiah 55, the last chapter of the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, which was addressed to the exiles in Babylon toward the end of their time of trial. Just three weeks ago, the lectionary gave us another reading from this same chapter. That reading was about the power and productivity of the word of God. This Sunday’s reading, from the very beginning of the chapter, is about God’s banquet. The text seems to be divided into two parts. The first part is a call to come to and be nourished by God. God offers water, the basic necessity. God offers grain, the basic source of nourishment. God offers wine and milk, symbols of richness. And all of this is free! You don’t have to have resources! All are included in the invitation apart from their social standing or means. Money is not important here. In the second part of our text we learn what is required for access to the Lord’s table: you have to listen. If you listen to God you will eat well, and you will have life, the most precious gift of all. Then, in a leap into a whole new dimension, God promises His people that the life He will give them will include the gifts that had been offered to David five hundred years before: that David and his people would dwell in peace, that his kingdom would last forever, that God’s favor would be with David’s family always (cf. II Samuel 7:8-16 and Psalm 89). There are several things to notice in this reading. First of all is the urgency of God’s invitation. "Come ... come ... come ... heed me ... come": this string of imperatives suggests that God is like an importunate host who simply can do enough for those he is inviting to his party. "Dig in and enjoy! Have a good time! I don’t want you to be without anything!" All God asks is that His people answer the invitation. Next, it’s worth noting that what God offers is not being offered to a small, exclusive group. The food and drink, the sharing in David’s promises are promised to all who want them, to all who thirst. And these blessings are offered "without paying and without cost" to all. What God is saying here is that the messianic blessings that are imaged in the food and drink and the promises made to David have not been invalidated by Israel’s defeat and exile. They are still available. They will be renewed for God’s whole people, indeed, for all peoples. It is clear that those who prepared the lectionary saw a fulfillment of these promises of Isaiah 55 in the feeding of the five thousand men in this Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 14:13-21). God’s promise was now being fulfilled. The messianic banquet had begun. These two readings about the messianic banquet are rich in meaning. For one thing, they speak of God’s goodness to His people. Be they a band of exiles whose spirit had been broken by defeat or a formless crowd of people in need, God will take care of them and give them what they need. Another dimension that these readings suggest is God’s generosity. In the first reading God urges His people to take advantage of what’s being offered. It doesn’t matter if you can’t pay. Just come and enjoy and you will have life and share in the covenant made to David. In the Gospel reading we see Jesus recklessly inviting five thousand men to dinner, plus their wives and children, feeding them effortlessly and having great quantities left over after the meal. Generosity indeed! We should understand both of these readings as directing our attention to the Eucharist. In this sacred meal we receive the body and blood, soul and divinity of the risen Lord. It provides us all the spiritual energy and nourishment we need. It is freely given by God. We can’t earn it or deserve it. Our participation in the Eucharist strengthens our ties to God’s people, to the final state of fulfillment of the promises that God made to David. And it is all brought about by the same Lord Jesus who was moved with compassion for the hungry of His time and fed them abundantly. It seems that God can’t do enough for us. His goodness is generously bestowed to call us into association with His messianic people. He urges us to take part in the banquet which, in its final form, is nothing less than a sharing in His own life. For reflection and discussion.** How have I experienced God’s generosity? How do I respond to God’s generosity?

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