Daily Readings - Sun Aug 01 2021
Exodus
2And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,3and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."4Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.12"I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"13In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp.14And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground.15When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.31Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
Ephesians
17Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.20But that is not the way you learned Christ!--21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
John
24So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"26Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.27Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."28Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?"29Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."30So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"32Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."34They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."35Jesus 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 journey through the narrative of God's provision and the call to live a life transformed by faith. The First Reading from Exodus recounts the Israelites' experience in the wilderness, where their complaints of hunger lead to God's miraculous provision of manna. This bread from heaven sustains them physically, a tangible sign of God's presence and care. The Second Reading from Ephesians shifts focus to the spiritual realm, urging believers to shed old, corrupt ways and embrace a new life in Christ, characterized by holiness and truth. The Gospel from John elevates this theme as Jesus, having fed the multitude, reveals Himself as the true bread from heaven, offering eternal life to all who believe.
The connection between these readings is profound. The manna in Exodus was a temporary solution to a physical need, while Jesus presents Himself as the eternal solution to humanity's spiritual hunger. Paul's letter to the Ephesians bridges these two, emphasizing that living as new creations in Christ is only possible through faith in Him. This progression from physical to spiritual underscores the Christian life's essence: trusting in God's provision beyond the immediate and seeking nourishment for the soul.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God's providence, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Just as the Israelites had to gather manna daily, we must seek spiritual nourishment through prayer, scripture, and the Eucharist. The moral lesson is clear: our ultimate satisfaction comes not from earthly comforts but from a deep, abiding relationship with Christ. Let us approach each day with spiritual hunger, seeking to be transformed by His grace, and living as witnesses to the eternal life He offers.