Daily Readings - Sun Aug 11 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s providence, the call to live in love and forgiveness, and the gift of faith that sustains us on our journey. In the first reading, Elijah, exhausted and discouraged, asks God to take his life. Yet, instead of granting his request, God provides him with bread and water, strengthening him for the journey ahead. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s care and provision are always present, though they may come in unexpected ways. Elijah’s story is one of trust and surrender, showing us that God’s plan for us is bigger than our immediate struggles.
The second reading from Ephesians calls us to live as children of God, imitating Him by walking in love and kindness. It reminds us to let go of bitterness and anger, choosing instead to forgive and be merciful, just as God has forgiven us. This is not always easy, but it is at the heart of what it means to follow Christ. The reading encourages us to reflect on how we treat others and whether our actions and words reflect the love of God.
In the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as the “living bread” who has come down from heaven to give us eternal life. The crowd murmurs in disbelief, unable to accept that the familiar Jesus, whose family they know, could make such a claim. Jesus responds by emphasizing that faith is a gift from the Father, and those who come to Him will be raised up on the last day. This passage invites us to reflect on our own faith—do we truly trust in God’s plan for us? Do we recognize Jesus as the source of life and nourishment for our souls?
Today’s readings remind us that our journey of faith is not one of self-reliance but of trust in God’s providence. Like Elijah, we may face moments of doubt or exhaustion, but God will sustain us. Like the Ephesians, we are called to live in love and forgiveness, reflecting the heart of Christ. And like the crowd in the Gospel, we are invited to deepen our faith, recognizing Jesus as the bread of life who satisfies our deepest hungers. Let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s plan, even when it’s unclear? Am I living in love and forgiveness? Am I nourishing my soul with the “living bread” of Christ? May we respond with faith, hope, and love, knowing that God’s grace is always sufficient for us.