Daily Readings - Sun Aug 19 2018
Proverbs
1Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.2She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.3She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town,4"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says,5"Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.6Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight."
Ephesians
15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
John
51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"53So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.56Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.57As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful invitations to embrace spiritual nourishment and wisdom. The first reading from Proverbs personifies Wisdom as a gracious host who has prepared a feast, urging the simple and the unwise to come and partake in her offerings. This imagery calls us to seek understanding and prudence, leaving behind childish ways. The second reading from Ephesians exhorts us to live wisely, avoiding the foolishness of the world, and instead to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This filling manifests in worship, gratitude, and a deep connection with God. The Gospel from John presents Jesus as the living bread, emphasizing that true life comes from partaking in His flesh and blood, a profound sacramental truth that transcends physical sustenance.
These readings interweave the themes of spiritual nourishment and wise living. Proverbs sets the stage by inviting us to the table of Wisdom, Ephesians guides us on how to live in accordance with that wisdom, and John’s Gospel reveals the ultimate source of spiritual food in Jesus Christ. Together, they remind us that our faith is not just about belief but about how we live and nourish our souls.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to seek wisdom in our decisions, to live with virtue, and to find strength in the Eucharist. They remind us that spiritual growth is an active process, requiring us to embrace God’s will and to cultivate a life of gratitude and worship. The moral lesson is clear: true life and wisdom come from embracing Jesus, the living bread, and living in the Spirit, allowing His presence to transform and guide us each day.