Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 11, 2023
First Reading: Deuteronomy 8.2-3, 14-16
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;
Psalm 147
1Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.2The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.3He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.4He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.5Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.6The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.7Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:8Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.9He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.10He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.11The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.13For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.14He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.15He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.16He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.17He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?18He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.19He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.20He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10.16-17
Gospel: John 6.51-59
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 journey through the wilderness of faith, the mystery of the Eucharist, and the profound gift of Jesus as the living bread. The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us of the Israelites' wilderness experience, where God tested their faith with manna, teaching them that true sustenance comes from His word. This historical context highlights the theme of trust and dependence on God amidst trials.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the Eucharist, a sacrament that unites us in Christ's body and blood, symbolizing our unity as one body in faith. This passage emphasizes the communal aspect of our spiritual nourishment, drawing us into a deeper understanding of communion.
In the Gospel, John presents Jesus as the living bread, offering eternal life through His flesh and blood. This transcends the physical manna, pointing to the ultimate spiritual sustenance that only Christ can provide. Together, these readings weave a narrative from physical to spiritual nourishment, underscoring the progression of God's revelation.
In our daily lives, these teachings invite us to trust God during life's challenges, just as the Israelites trusted Him in the wilderness. The Eucharist becomes our spiritual nourishment, strengthening us and uniting us in community. As we reflect, we realize that our spiritual life is as vital as our physical life, requiring us to nourish it through prayer, sacraments, and shared faith. Let us embrace this truth, finding life and unity in Christ, the true bread from heaven.