Daily Readings - Sun Aug 04 2024

²And the entire congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness³And the sons of Israel said to them: "If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat around bowls of meat and ate bread until filled. Why have you led us away, into this desert, so that you might kill the entire multitude with famine?⁴Then the Lord said to Moses: "Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Let the people go out and collect what is sufficient for each day, so that I may test them, as to whether or not they will walk in my law¹²"I have heard the murmuring of the sons of Israel. Say to them: ‘In the evening, you will eat flesh, and in the morning, you will be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ¹³Therefore, it happened in the evening: quails, rising up, covered the camp. Likewise, in the morning, a dew lay all around the camp¹⁴And when it had covered the face of the earth, it appeared, in the wilderness, small and as if crushed with a pestle, similar to hoar-frost on the ground¹⁵When the sons of Israel had seen it, they said one to another: "Manhu?" which means "What is this?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them: "This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat³¹And the house of Israel called its name ‘Manna.’ It was like white coriander seed, and its taste was like wheat flour with honey

Ephesians

Chapter 4

¹⁷And so, I say this, and I testify in the Lord: that from now on you should walk, not as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind²⁰But this is not what you have learned in Christ²¹For certainly, you have listened to him, and you have been instructed in him, according to the truth that is in Jesus²²to set aside your earlier behavior, the former man, who was corrupted, by means of desire, unto error²³and so be renewed in the spirit of your mind²⁴and so put on the new man, who, in accord with God, is created in justice and in the holiness of truth

John

Chapter 6

²⁴Therefore, when the crowd had seen that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they climbed into the small boats, and they went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus²⁵And when they had found him across the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?²⁶Jesus answered them and said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen signs, but because you have eaten from the bread and were satisfied²⁷Do not work for food that perishes, but for that which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.²⁸Therefore, they said to him, "What should we do, so that we may labor in the works of God?²⁹Jesus responded and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent.³⁰And so they said to him: "Then what sign will you do, so that we may see it and believe in you? What will you work³¹Our fathers ate manna in the desert, just as it has been written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ³²Therefore, Jesus said to them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven³³For the bread of God is he who descends from heaven and gives life to the world.³⁴And so they said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always.³⁵Then Jesus said to them: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter themes of provision, transformation, and the call to seek what truly satisfies. The first reading from Exodus describes the Israelites’ murmuring in the wilderness, dissatisfied with their circumstances and longing for the comforts of Egypt. God responds by providing manna, a miraculous bread from heaven, to sustain them on their journey. This story reminds us of God’s faithfulness and provision, even in times of uncertainty and complaint. The second reading from Ephesians shifts our focus to the spiritual realm, urging us to set aside our old, sinful ways and be renewed in Christ. It calls us to live in the “new man,” created in God’s image, marked by justice and holiness. Finally, the Gospel from John 6 deepens this theme as Jesus reveals himself as the “bread of life,” the true and lasting fulfillment of our deepest hungers. He invites us to seek not merely physical sustenance but eternal life, found in believing in him. The readings are interconnected in their emphasis on transformation and the pursuit of what truly satisfies. The Israelites in Exodus were focused on physical hunger, but God provided manna as a sign of his care and a call to trust in his providence. Similarly, in Ephesians, we are called to move beyond the “old man” of sin and worldly desires, embracing a new life in Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus takes this a step further, revealing that he is the ultimate bread from heaven, the source of eternal life. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on where we place our trust and what we truly seek in life. Are we content with temporary satisfactions, or do we hunger for something deeper? As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God’s providence, even when we feel uncertain or dissatisfied. Like the Israelites, we may grumble about our circumstances, but God is always working to provide for us in ways we may not fully understand. The call to “put on the new man” in Ephesians challenges us to examine our habits, attitudes, and priorities, inviting us to live in a way that reflects the holiness and love of Christ. And in the Gospel, Jesus invites us to seek him above all else, to hunger for the bread that gives eternal life. May we, like the crowd in Capernaum, ask Jesus for this bread, and may we find in him the fulfillment of our deepest longings.