A simple Advent reflection on Matthew 15:29 to 37, focusing on the word “sat” and inviting us to wait quietly for God who feeds our deepest hunger.(3-12-25)
Praise be to Jesus Christ
A disciple once went to his guru with a troubled heart. “Master,” he said, “my mind is confused and I want peace.” The guru told him to bring some water. The disciple returned with a pot of muddy water. The guru asked him to place it on the ground and sit. They both waited in silence. After some time, the disciple noticed that the mud had settled and the water had become clear. The guru said gently, “Your heart becomes like this water. When you stop rushing and sit quietly, clarity returns.”
This simple story opens a path into today’s Gospel. Matthew tells us that the people sat with Jesus for three days. The word that touched me in today’s Gospel is the small word “sat.” These people came with worries, pain, and tiredness, but they did not rush. They did not insist or complain. They simply stayed near Jesus. In a world that moves too fast and in homes filled with busyness, this single word becomes a strong message for Advent.
The people who sat near Jesus came with real burdens. Some were sick. Some carried hidden wounds. Some were exhausted from their journeys. But Matthew does not say they came only for miracles. They stayed because the presence of Jesus gave them rest. Advent invites us to sit like they did. We sit before God not with perfect prayers but with an honest hunger for His nearness. Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis Xavier who earnestly thirst for closeness of Jesus and proclaimed that sweetness to different parts of the world especially travelling to Asia. Let his life inspire us to seek the nearness of Jesus.
In the first reading, Isaiah speaks of a great feast on God’s holy mountain, a feast that will wipe away tears and remove shame. In Jesus, this promise slowly becomes real. When He looked at the crowd, He saw their hunger. His heart was moved with compassion. The God whom Isaiah described does not remain far away. He comes close, He sits with His people, and His people sit with Him.
Today we often behave like a man on a train who kept walking up and down the coach in a restless way. Another passenger told him, “Why don’t you sit and relax?” The man replied, “I have no time to sit. I am too busy.” Everyone smiled because the train would reach its destination whether he walked or sat. This is how many of us live. We are constantly moving with unwanted tension.
Advent teaches us something different; it tells us to sit in hope. Many want to jump straight into Christmas with lights, songs, and celebrations. But, advent gently tells us to slow down. It asks us to sit with our emptiness and wait for God. We wait like the crowd who had almost nothing but still remained with Jesus. So our deepest Advent hunger must be the hunger for His closeness.
Jesus did not ask the crowd to go and find food. Instead, He said, “I do not want to send them away hungry.” This is the heart of God. He does not want His people to go away empty. When we stay with Him long enough, He feeds us. He gives peace when our homes feel restless. He gives strength when responsibilities become heavy. He gives forgiveness when relationships are wounded, and He gives courage when life grows dark. Hence we need to understand that advent is not only a time to prepare for the birth of Jesus but also a time to allow Jesus to prepare our hearts.
In the Gospel, the crowd sat, Jesus fed them, and they were satisfied. This is Advent in its simplest form. We sit with God and God feeds us and satisfies us. In a noisy world, let our families learn this simple posture. Even a few minutes of sitting together before the Lord can bring healing. Again, this season invites everyone to sit with your husband, your wife, your children, friends and you will see many problems soften, and your heart and family will be ready for a truly happy Christmas
Lord, teach us to sit with You until our hearts are fed with Your peace.
⇒If you find this reflection meaningful and fruitful, please share it with others
The Team Search offers retreats, reflections, and classes for religious and others on various biblical themes, the Eucharist, prayer, spiritual direction, Missiology, English phonetics (basic & advanced), Mariology, the Sacraments, the Desert Fathers, and more. We are happy to assist you if you find it hard to get a resource person for any Christian topic.
♦Contact: thesearch1994@gmail.com
God Bless…
Wonderful teaching. 👍Thank you Father for inspiring us with your meaningful homily