Daily Readings - Sun Aug 04 2024

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 encounter themes of provision, transformation, and the call to seek what truly satisfies. The first reading from Exodus describes the Israelites’ murmuring in the wilderness, dissatisfied with their circumstances and longing for the comforts of Egypt. God responds by providing manna, a miraculous bread from heaven, to sustain them on their journey. This story reminds us of God’s faithfulness and provision, even in times of uncertainty and complaint. The second reading from Ephesians shifts our focus to the spiritual realm, urging us to set aside our old, sinful ways and be renewed in Christ. It calls us to live in the “new man,” created in God’s image, marked by justice and holiness. Finally, the Gospel from John 6 deepens this theme as Jesus reveals himself as the “bread of life,” the true and lasting fulfillment of our deepest hungers. He invites us to seek not merely physical sustenance but eternal life, found in believing in him. The readings are interconnected in their emphasis on transformation and the pursuit of what truly satisfies. The Israelites in Exodus were focused on physical hunger, but God provided manna as a sign of his care and a call to trust in his providence. Similarly, in Ephesians, we are called to move beyond the “old man” of sin and worldly desires, embracing a new life in Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus takes this a step further, revealing that he is the ultimate bread from heaven, the source of eternal life. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on where we place our trust and what we truly seek in life. Are we content with temporary satisfactions, or do we hunger for something deeper? As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God’s providence, even when we feel uncertain or dissatisfied. Like the Israelites, we may grumble about our circumstances, but God is always working to provide for us in ways we may not fully understand. The call to “put on the new man” in Ephesians challenges us to examine our habits, attitudes, and priorities, inviting us to live in a way that reflects the holiness and love of Christ. And in the Gospel, Jesus invites us to seek him above all else, to hunger for the bread that gives eternal life. May we, like the crowd in Capernaum, ask Jesus for this bread, and may we find in him the fulfillment of our deepest longings.