Daily Readings - Sun Jun 14 2020
Deuteronomy
2And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.3And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.14then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,15who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock,16who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.
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."59Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter a profound journey through the concept of bread as a symbol of divine provision and spiritual nourishment. The first reading from Deuteronomy recounts the Israelites' 40 years in the desert, where they were tested and sustained by God through manna. This manna was not just a physical provision but a lesson in trusting God's providence beyond the physical realm. The second reading from Corinthians shifts our focus to the Eucharist, highlighting how the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, uniting believers in a communal bond. This sacrament underscores our unity as the body of Christ. In the Gospel of John, Jesus elevates this concept, declaring himself the living bread, offering eternal life to those who partake in his flesh and blood. This bread surpasses the manna of old, providing spiritual sustenance that endures forever.
The context of these readings reveals a progression from the desert wanderings of the Israelites to the early Christian community and ultimately to the teachings of Jesus. Each setting emphasizes trust in God's provision, communal unity, and the ultimate spiritual nourishment found in Christ. The Israelites learned to depend on God despite physical hardships, the Corinthians found unity in the Eucharist, and Jesus offered himself as the source of eternal life.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own dependence on God. Just as the Israelites trusted God for manna, we are called to trust in His providence, even when our physical needs seem uncertain. The Eucharist reminds us of our unity as a community, urging us to live in harmony and mutual support. Jesus, as the living bread, calls us to seek spiritual nourishment, recognizing that our deepest hunger is for a relationship with Him. This spiritual dependence on Christ transforms our lives, guiding us to live with faith, unity, and a heart open to God's will.
As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded of our true hunger—a hunger for God. The Eucharist, as the ultimate fulfillment of this hunger, invites us to partake in Christ's life, uniting us with Him and with each other. May we embrace this divine nourishment, trusting in God's provision, living in unity, and seeking the eternal life offered through Jesus, the living bread.