Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection (Homily), 8 August 2021

Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection (Homily), 8 August 2021

Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection (Homily), 8 August 2021

Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for  Sunday August 8, 2021

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery


Theme of the Sunday: The word of Jesus, Bread of Life. We always seek life and the nourishment to preserve it. Manna, though a gift of God, was not capable of giving everlasting life to the people of Israel in the desert. In today’s gospel Jesus tells us that his humanity, weak and fragile as it is, is the true nourishment sent from heaven and capable of satisfying the need for a full life present in the heart of us all. The first reading shows us Elijah who longs to meet his God, the only reason for his existence. To reach him, he went on a long and risky journey with the power that he received from the bread sent from heaven. The second reading presents us with two lists, one of vices and the second of virtues and tells the difference between the life of those who feed on Christ, the bread of heaven, and those who reject him.

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FIRST READING
“He walked in the strength of that food to the mount of God.”
A reading from the first Book of Kings (1 Kings 19:4-8)

In those days: Elijah went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.” And he arose, and ate and drank, and walked in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm34:2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9 (R. 9a)
R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good!

I will bless the Lord at all times,
praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast;
the humble shall hear and be glad. R.


Glorify the Lord with me;
together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free. R.

R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This lowly one called; the Lord heard,
and rescued him from all his distress. R.

The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who fear him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed the man who seeks refuge in him. R.

SECOND READING
“Walk in love, just as Christ.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:30-5:2)

Brethren: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA John 6:51
Alleluia. I am the living bread which came down from heaven, says the Lord; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 6:41-51)


At that time: The Jews murmured at Jesus, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
My flesh for the life of the world.

PRIEST: Christ in the Eucharist is our daily food, as we journey back to the Father. Let us ask him, in our earthly pilgrimage, for all those graces which we require on the way.

READER:
FOR RELIGIOUS, WHOSE CONGREGATIONS HAVE A SPECIAL DEVOTION TO THE EUCHARIST, (pause) let their hours of prayer and adoration bring to the Church and the world all the spiritual blessings they need. (pause) Give us this day, Lord; and daily bread we pray Oh Lord.

FOR CATHOLICS IN GOVERNMENT, (pause) let them begin their day’s work in prayer, and, whenever possible, receive the Eucharist as the spiritual strength for their daily task. (pause) Give us this day, Lord; and daily bread we pray Oh Lord.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE TEMPTED TO GIVE UP THE SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE, (pause) let them remember the story of Elijah, and in their journey on the road of suffering let them find heart to trust Christ, evening the darkness of their pain. (pause) Give us this day, Lord; and daily bread we pray Oh Lord.

FOR PEACE AND LOVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, (pause) let us forgive each other from our hearts, and never forget that those who share the Lord’s table should always live in mutual, loving peace. (pause) Give us this day, Lord; and daily bread we pray Oh Lord.

We pray for our own intentions in silence to God our Father, who heeds our every request.

PRIEST:
Father, with confidence we pray to you, because, when you call us on our pilgrimage, you feed us for our journey. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reflection

In his book, wrestling with Christ, the Italian novelist, dramatist and mystic luigi Santucci (1918-1999) explains that when Jesus gave bread to his disciples, he deliberately said: “This is my body,” and not “This is my spirit,” because he wanted to be constantly present with them through something concrete and familiar to them: bread and wine. Jesus chose bread and wine because he knew that food and drink matter in human life. In every gathering of people eating and drinking are expressions of unity, solidarity, harmonious relationship, fellowship and joy. Those who partake in consuming the body and blood of Christ establish a relationship with him. Hence to eat and drink of Christ’s body and blood is to share in his life.

Today’s Saint and Quote: St Dominic – August 8th

– A man who governs his passions is master of his world. We must either command them or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a hammer than an anvil.

– Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes.

St Mary Mac Killop – August 8th

In the trials, annoyances and anxieties we daily experience, may we ever recognize that loving Fatherly Hand that only seeks to draw us closer to himself by giving us opportunities to suffer something for him.

Today’s Reflection

To be a bridge-builder or to be the in-between person is never an easy task because of the pressure and demands of both parties. In many ways, we the church are also called to be bridge-builders between God and the world, and also between peoples. The Gospel presents Peter proclaiming Jesus as the Son of the living God, as indeed he is. As the Son of God, Jesus came to bring men back to God but it certainly was not an easy task. He had to lay down his life in order to fulfill his mission. The mission that is entrusted to us, the church, is also to bring people back to God by being bridge-builders. It was no easy task for Jesus, neither will it be for us.

Personal Devotional

Jesus said, Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belong to such as these,” Matthew 19:14

– Lord, help me to always adopt godly strategies in bring up the children you have given to me, in Jesus name.

– Dear Holy Spirit, teach me so that I can be a positive influence on the children around me.

Let Us Pray
(Prayer for Children and Wards)

O Lord, please establish my children and descendants before you. Grant your grace upon each one, to follow you wholeheartedly as disciples all the days of their lives in the name of Jesus Christ. I decree in Jesus name that my children would not be a source of affliction, but testimonies to God grace.

I decree that no generational curse shall have any effect upon my children’s life in name of Jesus. You weapon of darkness targeted against the destiny of my child/children, be nullify by fire in Jesus name. Arrows of destruction in the destiny of my children, come out and be destroyed in Jesus name. You evil society hosting my children at midnight hour, be scattered in Jesus name.

You demonically inspired diseases assigned to the lives of my children, all marks of witchcraft, covenants of darkness, arrows of oppression, demonic inspired sicknesses, spirit of retardation and backwardness, be wiped off by the BLOOD of Jesus. You spirit of untimely death, Spirit of marine witchcraft, you Spirit of rebellion, Spirit of error, You inherited problems in my children’s life come out in Jesus name. Anointing of excellence fall upon my children. Anointing of success fall upon my children. O Lord take my children from the tail region to the head region. BLOOD of Jesus set me free in Jesus name. Thank you Jesus for answered Prayers.

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