Daily Readings - Sun Aug 12 2018

⁴while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."⁵Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat."⁶He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.⁷The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you."⁸So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

Ephesians

Chapter 4

³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Chapter 5

¹Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children²and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John

Chapter 6

⁴¹At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."⁴²They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"⁴³"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered.⁴⁴"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.⁴⁵It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.⁴⁶No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.⁴⁷I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.⁴⁸I am the bread of life.⁴⁹Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.⁵⁰But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.⁵¹I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Sermon

In the first reading, Elijah finds himself in the depths of despair, exhausted and wanting to end his life. Yet, in his darkest moment, God provides an angel who nourishes him with bread and water, giving him the strength to journey to Mount Horeb. This story reminds us of God's unwavering care, even in our most desperate times, offering sustenance and hope when we feel we cannot go on. The second reading from Ephesians encourages us to live in a way that reflects God's love. We are called to let go of bitterness and anger, embracing kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. This passage invites us to imitate God by walking in love, just as Christ did through His ultimate sacrifice. It connects to Elijah's story by highlighting the importance of living in harmony with others, sustained by God's grace. In the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as the living bread come down from heaven, offering eternal life to those who believe. Despite the murmuring of the crowd, Jesus emphasizes that His Father draws people to Him, promising that those who come will never hunger or thirst. This ties together the themes of divine provision and the call to live in love, showing Jesus as the ultimate source of our spiritual nourishment. In our daily lives, these readings remind us to trust in God's providence, especially in times of weariness. They encourage us to live with love and kindness, reflecting God's nature, and to find our strength in Jesus, the Bread of Life. Through faith and trust, we are called to embody God's love and find eternal life in Him.