Daily Readings - Sun Aug 08 2021

⁴But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers."⁵And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat."⁶And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.⁷And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you."⁸And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

Ephesians

Chapter 4

³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.³¹Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.³²Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Chapter 5

¹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John

Chapter 6

⁴¹So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."⁴²They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"⁴³Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.⁴⁴No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.⁴⁵It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me--⁴⁶not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.⁴⁷Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.⁴⁸I am the bread of life.⁴⁹Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.⁵⁰This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.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."

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons of trust, love, and divine provision. First, in 1 Kings, Elijah finds himself in a desert, overwhelmed and despairing, yet an angel provides him with bread and water, renewing his strength. This story illustrates God's unwavering care and provision, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, God is present, offering sustenance and hope. The Ephesians reading shifts our focus to living a life of love and forgiveness. It urges us to avoid negative emotions and instead embrace kindness and compassion, imitating God's love. This call to love is exemplified in Christ's sacrifice, highlighting the transformative power of selfless love in our lives. In the Gospel, Jesus declares himself the living bread, offering eternal life to all who believe. This teaching challenges us to trust in God's plan and recognize Jesus as our ultimate source of strength and life, just as Elijah was sustained in the desert. These readings weave together themes of trust, love, and reliance on Jesus. They encourage us to trust in God's providence, live with love and forgiveness, and find eternal life in Jesus. May we draw strength from these lessons, living each day with renewed faith and love.