Daily Readings - Sun Aug 18 2024
Proverbs
1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Ephesians
15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
John
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.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the invitation of Wisdom and the gift of eternal life offered by Christ. In the first reading from Proverbs, Wisdom prepares a banquet, calling out to those who are simple or unwise to come and partake of her bread and wine. This passage is a metaphor for the pursuit of wisdom and the transformation it brings to our lives. Wisdom is not just knowledge but a way of living, a path that requires us to leave behind childishness and walk in prudence. The second reading from Ephesians echoes this call to live wisely, urging us to understand God’s will and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It reminds us that our lives should be marked by gratitude and joy, even in the midst of challenges.
The Gospel reading from John takes this invitation to a deeper level. Jesus identifies himself as the living bread come down from heaven, offering his flesh and blood for the life of the world. This passage is at the heart of our Catholic faith, pointing to the Eucharist as the source and summit of our spiritual lives. Just as Wisdom invites us to her table, Christ invites us to partake of his body and blood, promising us eternal life and union with him. The Jews in the Gospel struggled to understand this teaching, just as we may sometimes find it difficult to grasp the mystery of the Eucharist. Yet, Jesus is clear: to have life in us, we must receive him fully and completely.
These readings call us to examine how we respond to God’s invitation in our daily lives. Are we seeking wisdom and living in a way that reflects our faith? Do we approach the Eucharist with reverence and gratitude, recognizing the gift of Christ’s very self? Let us ask for the grace to live wisely, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to deepen our union with Christ through the sacraments. May we embrace the transformative power of God’s love, leaving behind what is childish and walking in the ways of prudence, so that we may truly live and abide in him.