Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 12, 2018
First Reading: 1 Kings 19.4-8
4But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.5And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.6And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.7And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.8And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Psalm 34
1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Second Reading: Ephesians 4.30 – 5.2
30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Gospel: John 6.41-51
41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.48I am that bread of life.49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Sermon
In the first reading, Elijah finds himself in the depths of despair, exhausted and wanting to end his life. Yet, in his darkest moment, God provides an angel who nourishes him with bread and water, giving him the strength to journey to Mount Horeb. This story reminds us of God's unwavering care, even in our most desperate times, offering sustenance and hope when we feel we cannot go on.
The second reading from Ephesians encourages us to live in a way that reflects God's love. We are called to let go of bitterness and anger, embracing kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. This passage invites us to imitate God by walking in love, just as Christ did through His ultimate sacrifice. It connects to Elijah's story by highlighting the importance of living in harmony with others, sustained by God's grace.
In the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as the living bread come down from heaven, offering eternal life to those who believe. Despite the murmuring of the crowd, Jesus emphasizes that His Father draws people to Him, promising that those who come will never hunger or thirst. This ties together the themes of divine provision and the call to live in love, showing Jesus as the ultimate source of our spiritual nourishment.
In our daily lives, these readings remind us to trust in God's providence, especially in times of weariness. They encourage us to live with love and kindness, reflecting God's nature, and to find our strength in Jesus, the Bread of Life. Through faith and trust, we are called to embody God's love and find eternal life in Him.