Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 11, 2023
First Reading: Deuteronomy 8.2-3, 14-16
2And you shall remember the entire journey along which the Lord your God led you, for forty years through the desert, to afflict you, and to test you, and to make known the things that were turning in your soul, whether or not you would keep his commandments3He afflicted you with need, and he gave you Manna as your food, which neither you nor your fathers knew, so as to reveal to you that it is not by bread alone that man lives, but by every word that goes forth from the mouth of God14your heart might be lifted up, and you might not remember the Lord your God, who led you away from the land of Egypt, from the house of servitude15and who was your leader in the great and terrible wilderness, in which there was the serpent with a burning breath, and the scorpion, and the snake of thirst, and no waters at all. He led streams out of the hardest rock16and he nourished you in the wilderness with Manna, which your fathers had not known. And after he had afflicted and tested you, in the very end, he took pity on you
Psalm 147
1Alleluia. Praise the Lord, because the psalm is good. Delightful and beautiful praise shall be for our God2The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He will gather together the dispersed of Israel3He heals the contrite of heart, and he binds up their sorrows4He numbers the multitude of the stars, and he calls them all by their names5Great is our Lord, and great is his virtue. And of his wisdom, there is no number6The Lord lifts up the meek, but he brings down the sinner, even to the ground7Sing before the Lord with confession. Play psalms to our God on a stringed instrument8He covers heaven with clouds, and he prepares rain for the earth. He produces grass on the mountains and herbs for the service of men9He gives their food to beasts of burden and to young ravens that call upon him10He will not have good will for the strength of the horse, nor will he be well pleased with the legs of a man11The Lord is well pleased with those who fear him and with those who hope in his mercy12Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. Praise your God, O Zion13For he has reinforced the bars of your gates. He has blessed your sons within you14He has stationed peace at your borders, and he has satisfied you with the fat of the grain15He sends forth his eloquence to the earth. His word runs swiftly16He provides snow like wool. He strews clouds like ashes17He sends his ice crystals like morsels. Who can stand firm before the face of his cold18He will send forth his word, and it will melt them. His Spirit will breathe out, and the waters will flow19He announces his word to Jacob, his justices and his judgments to Israel20He has not done so much for every nation, and he has not made his judgments manifest to them. Alleluia
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10.16-17
Gospel: John 6.51-59
51I 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.52Therefore, the Jews debated among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?53And so, Jesus said to them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him57Just as the living Father has sent me and I live because of the Father, so also whoever eats me, the same shall live because of me58This is the bread that descends from heaven. It is not like the manna that your fathers ate, for they died. Whoever eats this bread shall live forever.59He said these things when he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the wilderness of faith, the mystery of the Eucharist, and the profound gift of Jesus as the living bread. The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us of the Israelites' wilderness experience, where God tested their faith with manna, teaching them that true sustenance comes from His word. This historical context highlights the theme of trust and dependence on God amidst trials.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the Eucharist, a sacrament that unites us in Christ's body and blood, symbolizing our unity as one body in faith. This passage emphasizes the communal aspect of our spiritual nourishment, drawing us into a deeper understanding of communion.
In the Gospel, John presents Jesus as the living bread, offering eternal life through His flesh and blood. This transcends the physical manna, pointing to the ultimate spiritual sustenance that only Christ can provide. Together, these readings weave a narrative from physical to spiritual nourishment, underscoring the progression of God's revelation.
In our daily lives, these teachings invite us to trust God during life's challenges, just as the Israelites trusted Him in the wilderness. The Eucharist becomes our spiritual nourishment, strengthening us and uniting us in community. As we reflect, we realize that our spiritual life is as vital as our physical life, requiring us to nourish it through prayer, sacraments, and shared faith. Let us embrace this truth, finding life and unity in Christ, the true bread from heaven.