Daily Readings - Sun Aug 08 2021
1 Kings
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.
Ephesians
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.
John
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 today's readings, we encounter profound lessons of trust, love, and divine provision.
First, in 1 Kings, Elijah finds himself in a desert, overwhelmed and despairing, yet an angel provides him with bread and water, renewing his strength. This story illustrates God's unwavering care and provision, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, God is present, offering sustenance and hope.
The Ephesians reading shifts our focus to living a life of love and forgiveness. It urges us to avoid negative emotions and instead embrace kindness and compassion, imitating God's love. This call to love is exemplified in Christ's sacrifice, highlighting the transformative power of selfless love in our lives.
In the Gospel, Jesus declares himself the living bread, offering eternal life to all who believe. This teaching challenges us to trust in God's plan and recognize Jesus as our ultimate source of strength and life, just as Elijah was sustained in the desert.
These readings weave together themes of trust, love, and reliance on Jesus. They encourage us to trust in God's providence, live with love and forgiveness, and find eternal life in Jesus. May we draw strength from these lessons, living each day with renewed faith and love.