Daily Readings - Sun Aug 11 2024

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

Chapter 4

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

Chapter 5

¹Therefore, as most beloved sons, be imitators of God²And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, with a fragrance of sweetness

John

Chapter 6

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s providence, the call to live in love and forgiveness, and the gift of faith that sustains us on our journey. In the first reading, Elijah, exhausted and discouraged, asks God to take his life. Yet, instead of granting his request, God provides him with bread and water, strengthening him for the journey ahead. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s care and provision are always present, though they may come in unexpected ways. Elijah’s story is one of trust and surrender, showing us that God’s plan for us is bigger than our immediate struggles. The second reading from Ephesians calls us to live as children of God, imitating Him by walking in love and kindness. It reminds us to let go of bitterness and anger, choosing instead to forgive and be merciful, just as God has forgiven us. This is not always easy, but it is at the heart of what it means to follow Christ. The reading encourages us to reflect on how we treat others and whether our actions and words reflect the love of God. In the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as the “living bread” who has come down from heaven to give us eternal life. The crowd murmurs in disbelief, unable to accept that the familiar Jesus, whose family they know, could make such a claim. Jesus responds by emphasizing that faith is a gift from the Father, and those who come to Him will be raised up on the last day. This passage invites us to reflect on our own faith—do we truly trust in God’s plan for us? Do we recognize Jesus as the source of life and nourishment for our souls? Today’s readings remind us that our journey of faith is not one of self-reliance but of trust in God’s providence. Like Elijah, we may face moments of doubt or exhaustion, but God will sustain us. Like the Ephesians, we are called to live in love and forgiveness, reflecting the heart of Christ. And like the crowd in the Gospel, we are invited to deepen our faith, recognizing Jesus as the bread of life who satisfies our deepest hungers. Let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s plan, even when it’s unclear? Am I living in love and forgiveness? Am I nourishing my soul with the “living bread” of Christ? May we respond with faith, hope, and love, knowing that God’s grace is always sufficient for us.