Daily Readings - Sun Jun 14 2020

²And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.³And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.¹⁴Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;¹⁵Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;¹⁶Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

1 Corinthians

Chapter 10

¹⁶The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?¹⁷For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

John

Chapter 6

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.⁵²The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?⁵³Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.⁵⁴Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.⁵⁵For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.⁵⁶He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.⁵⁷As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.⁵⁸This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.⁵⁹These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter a profound journey through the concept of bread as a symbol of divine provision and spiritual nourishment. The first reading from Deuteronomy recounts the Israelites' 40 years in the desert, where they were tested and sustained by God through manna. This manna was not just a physical provision but a lesson in trusting God's providence beyond the physical realm. The second reading from Corinthians shifts our focus to the Eucharist, highlighting how the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, uniting believers in a communal bond. This sacrament underscores our unity as the body of Christ. In the Gospel of John, Jesus elevates this concept, declaring himself the living bread, offering eternal life to those who partake in his flesh and blood. This bread surpasses the manna of old, providing spiritual sustenance that endures forever. The context of these readings reveals a progression from the desert wanderings of the Israelites to the early Christian community and ultimately to the teachings of Jesus. Each setting emphasizes trust in God's provision, communal unity, and the ultimate spiritual nourishment found in Christ. The Israelites learned to depend on God despite physical hardships, the Corinthians found unity in the Eucharist, and Jesus offered himself as the source of eternal life. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own dependence on God. Just as the Israelites trusted God for manna, we are called to trust in His providence, even when our physical needs seem uncertain. The Eucharist reminds us of our unity as a community, urging us to live in harmony and mutual support. Jesus, as the living bread, calls us to seek spiritual nourishment, recognizing that our deepest hunger is for a relationship with Him. This spiritual dependence on Christ transforms our lives, guiding us to live with faith, unity, and a heart open to God's will. As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded of our true hunger—a hunger for God. The Eucharist, as the ultimate fulfillment of this hunger, invites us to partake in Christ's life, uniting us with Him and with each other. May we embrace this divine nourishment, trusting in God's provision, living in unity, and seeking the eternal life offered through Jesus, the living bread.