Daily Readings - Sun Aug 08 2021

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 today's readings, we encounter profound lessons of trust, love, and divine provision. First, in 1 Kings, Elijah finds himself in a desert, overwhelmed and despairing, yet an angel provides him with bread and water, renewing his strength. This story illustrates God's unwavering care and provision, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, God is present, offering sustenance and hope. The Ephesians reading shifts our focus to living a life of love and forgiveness. It urges us to avoid negative emotions and instead embrace kindness and compassion, imitating God's love. This call to love is exemplified in Christ's sacrifice, highlighting the transformative power of selfless love in our lives. In the Gospel, Jesus declares himself the living bread, offering eternal life to all who believe. This teaching challenges us to trust in God's plan and recognize Jesus as our ultimate source of strength and life, just as Elijah was sustained in the desert. These readings weave together themes of trust, love, and reliance on Jesus. They encourage us to trust in God's providence, live with love and forgiveness, and find eternal life in Jesus. May we draw strength from these lessons, living each day with renewed faith and love.