Daily Readings - Sun Aug 11 2024

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s providence, the call to live in love and forgiveness, and the gift of faith that sustains us on our journey. In the first reading, Elijah, exhausted and discouraged, asks God to take his life. Yet, instead of granting his request, God provides him with bread and water, strengthening him for the journey ahead. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s care and provision are always present, though they may come in unexpected ways. Elijah’s story is one of trust and surrender, showing us that God’s plan for us is bigger than our immediate struggles. The second reading from Ephesians calls us to live as children of God, imitating Him by walking in love and kindness. It reminds us to let go of bitterness and anger, choosing instead to forgive and be merciful, just as God has forgiven us. This is not always easy, but it is at the heart of what it means to follow Christ. The reading encourages us to reflect on how we treat others and whether our actions and words reflect the love of God. In the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as the “living bread” who has come down from heaven to give us eternal life. The crowd murmurs in disbelief, unable to accept that the familiar Jesus, whose family they know, could make such a claim. Jesus responds by emphasizing that faith is a gift from the Father, and those who come to Him will be raised up on the last day. This passage invites us to reflect on our own faith—do we truly trust in God’s plan for us? Do we recognize Jesus as the source of life and nourishment for our souls? Today’s readings remind us that our journey of faith is not one of self-reliance but of trust in God’s providence. Like Elijah, we may face moments of doubt or exhaustion, but God will sustain us. Like the Ephesians, we are called to live in love and forgiveness, reflecting the heart of Christ. And like the crowd in the Gospel, we are invited to deepen our faith, recognizing Jesus as the bread of life who satisfies our deepest hungers. Let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s plan, even when it’s unclear? Am I living in love and forgiveness? Am I nourishing my soul with the “living bread” of Christ? May we respond with faith, hope, and love, knowing that God’s grace is always sufficient for us.