Daily Readings - Sun Aug 12 2018
1 Kings
4And he continued on, into the desert, for one day’s journey. And when he had arrived, and was sitting under a juniper tree, he requested for his soul that he might die. And he said: "It is enough for me, O Lord. Take my soul. For I am no better than my fathers.5And he stretched himself out, and he slept deeply in the shadow of the juniper tree. And behold, an Angel of the Lord touched him, and said to him, "Rise up and eat.6He looked, and behold, at his head was bread baked under ashes, and a container of water. Then he ate and drank, and again he slept deeply7And the Angel of the Lord returned a second time, and touched him, and said to him: "Rise up, eat. For a great journey again stands before you.8And he when he had risen up, he ate and drank. And he walked by the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights, as far as the mountain of God, Horeb
Ephesians
30And do not be willing to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you have been sealed, unto the day of redemption31Let all bitterness and anger and indignation and outcry and blasphemy be taken away from you, along with all malice32And be kind and merciful to one another, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you in Christ
John
41Therefore, the Jews murmured about him, because he had said: "I am the living bread, who descended from heaven.42And they said: "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? Then how can he say: ‘For I descended from heaven?’ 43And so Jesus responded and said to them: "Do not choose to murmur among yourselves44No one is able to come to me, unless the Father, who has sent me, has drawn him. And I will raise him up on the last day45It has been written in the Prophets: ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has listened and learned from the Father comes to me46Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God; this one has seen the Father47Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me has eternal life48I am the bread of life49Your fathers ate manna in the desert, and they died50This is the bread which descends from heaven, so that if anyone will eat from it, he may not die51I am the living bread, who descended from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread, he shall live in eternity. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
Sermon
In the first reading, Elijah finds himself in the depths of despair, exhausted and wanting to end his life. Yet, in his darkest moment, God provides an angel who nourishes him with bread and water, giving him the strength to journey to Mount Horeb. This story reminds us of God's unwavering care, even in our most desperate times, offering sustenance and hope when we feel we cannot go on.
The second reading from Ephesians encourages us to live in a way that reflects God's love. We are called to let go of bitterness and anger, embracing kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. This passage invites us to imitate God by walking in love, just as Christ did through His ultimate sacrifice. It connects to Elijah's story by highlighting the importance of living in harmony with others, sustained by God's grace.
In the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as the living bread come down from heaven, offering eternal life to those who believe. Despite the murmuring of the crowd, Jesus emphasizes that His Father draws people to Him, promising that those who come will never hunger or thirst. This ties together the themes of divine provision and the call to live in love, showing Jesus as the ultimate source of our spiritual nourishment.
In our daily lives, these readings remind us to trust in God's providence, especially in times of weariness. They encourage us to live with love and kindness, reflecting God's nature, and to find our strength in Jesus, the Bread of Life. Through faith and trust, we are called to embody God's love and find eternal life in Him.