Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 12, 2018
First Reading: 1 Kings 19.4-8
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
Psalm 34
1To David, when he changed his appearance in the sight of Abimelech, and so he dismissed him, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be ever in my mouth2In the Lord, my soul will be praised. May the meek listen and rejoice3Magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name in itself4I sought the Lord, and he heeded me, and he carried me away from all my tribulations5Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded6This poor one cried out, and the Lord heeded him, and he saved him from all his tribulations7The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear him, and he will rescue them8Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Blessed is the man who hopes in him9Fear the Lord, all you his saints. For there is no destitution for those who fear him10The rich have been needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing11Come forward, sons. Listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord12Which is the man who wills life, who chooses to see good days13Prohibit your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit14Turn away from evil, and do good. Inquire about peace, and pursue it15The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and his ears are with their prayers16But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth17The just cried out, and the Lord heard them, and he freed them from all their tribulations18The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble in spirit19Many are the afflictions of the just, but from them all the Lord will free them20The Lord preserves all of their bones, not one of them shall be broken21The death of a sinner is very harmful, and those who hate the just will fare badly22The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him will fare badly
Second Reading: Ephesians 4.30 – 5.2
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
Gospel: John 6.41-51
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.