Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 11, 2024
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
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.