Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 11, 2023
First Reading: Deuteronomy 8.2-3, 14-16
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.
Psalm 147
1Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.5Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.6The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!8He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.9He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.10His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,11but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!13For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.14He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.15He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.16He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.17He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?18He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.19He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.20He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10.16-17
Gospel: John 6.51-59
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 journey through the wilderness of faith, the mystery of the Eucharist, and the profound gift of Jesus as the living bread. The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us of the Israelites' wilderness experience, where God tested their faith with manna, teaching them that true sustenance comes from His word. This historical context highlights the theme of trust and dependence on God amidst trials.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the Eucharist, a sacrament that unites us in Christ's body and blood, symbolizing our unity as one body in faith. This passage emphasizes the communal aspect of our spiritual nourishment, drawing us into a deeper understanding of communion.
In the Gospel, John presents Jesus as the living bread, offering eternal life through His flesh and blood. This transcends the physical manna, pointing to the ultimate spiritual sustenance that only Christ can provide. Together, these readings weave a narrative from physical to spiritual nourishment, underscoring the progression of God's revelation.
In our daily lives, these teachings invite us to trust God during life's challenges, just as the Israelites trusted Him in the wilderness. The Eucharist becomes our spiritual nourishment, strengthening us and uniting us in community. As we reflect, we realize that our spiritual life is as vital as our physical life, requiring us to nourish it through prayer, sacraments, and shared faith. Let us embrace this truth, finding life and unity in Christ, the true bread from heaven.