Daily Readings - Sun Aug 01 2021
Exodus
2And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:3And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.4Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.12I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.13And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.14And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.15And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.31And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
Ephesians
17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,20But ye have not so learned Christ;21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
John
24When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the narrative of God's provision and the call to live a life transformed by faith. The First Reading from Exodus recounts the Israelites' experience in the wilderness, where their complaints of hunger lead to God's miraculous provision of manna. This bread from heaven sustains them physically, a tangible sign of God's presence and care. The Second Reading from Ephesians shifts focus to the spiritual realm, urging believers to shed old, corrupt ways and embrace a new life in Christ, characterized by holiness and truth. The Gospel from John elevates this theme as Jesus, having fed the multitude, reveals Himself as the true bread from heaven, offering eternal life to all who believe.
The connection between these readings is profound. The manna in Exodus was a temporary solution to a physical need, while Jesus presents Himself as the eternal solution to humanity's spiritual hunger. Paul's letter to the Ephesians bridges these two, emphasizing that living as new creations in Christ is only possible through faith in Him. This progression from physical to spiritual underscores the Christian life's essence: trusting in God's provision beyond the immediate and seeking nourishment for the soul.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God's providence, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Just as the Israelites had to gather manna daily, we must seek spiritual nourishment through prayer, scripture, and the Eucharist. The moral lesson is clear: our ultimate satisfaction comes not from earthly comforts but from a deep, abiding relationship with Christ. Let us approach each day with spiritual hunger, seeking to be transformed by His grace, and living as witnesses to the eternal life He offers.