Daily Readings - Sun Jul 28 2024
2 Kings
42A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, "Give to the men, that they may eat."43But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred men?" So he repeated, "Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left.'"44So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.
Ephesians
1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--5one Lord, one faith, one baptism,6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
John
1After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.2And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.3Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.5Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?"6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.7Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little."8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,9"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?"10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.11Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.12And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost."13So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten.14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"15Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of God’s boundless generosity and the call to live in unity and humility. In the first reading from 2 Kings, we see Elisha, a prophet of God, being offered a small amount of bread by a man from Baal-Shalishah. Though the servant questions whether such a small offering can satisfy a hundred men, Elisha trusts in God’s promise and instructs him to distribute the bread. Miraculously, there is more than enough for everyone, and some is even left over. This story highlights God’s ability to provide abundantly, even when human resources seem insufficient.
The Gospel reading from John 6 presents a similar theme of divine abundance through the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus, seeing the hunger of the crowd, takes the meager offering of five barley loaves and two fish from a young boy and multiplies it to feed everyone. The leftovers fill twelve baskets, showing that God’s gifts are not only sufficient but also overflowing. This miracle points to Jesus as the Bread of Life, who satisfies our deepest hungers and calls us to trust in His providence.
Both readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s provision and the importance of generosity. The second reading from Ephesians reminds us that living in unity and humility is essential for reflecting God’s love in the world. Just as the bread was shared among the crowd and the leftovers gathered to prevent waste, we are called to share our own gifts and resources with others, ensuring that no one is left without. Today, let us reflect on how we can trust in God’s abundance, live with humility, and generously share what we have, so that all may experience the richness of His love.