The readings for Sunday, August 2, continue the theme and subject of last Sunday’s readings, that of the divine providence of God. Now, we might think that divine providence is experienced only by holy priests and nuns, but that isn’t the case. Sometimes, it falls on those who grumble and complain like in the First Reading. At other times, it falls on those who are in need but are not aware of their needs as in today’s Gospel Reading where Jesus feeds the 5000 because they are unable to supply enough food for themselves. As we have said in the past, God looks out for the faithful and even those who are still searching for Him.
The First Reading is from the Book of Exodus (16:2-4, 12-15). Like today’s First Reading, this passage from Exodus retells the story of God showering ‘manna’ and quail on the Israelites in the desert during the time of Moses and the Exodus. It was a sign of God’s divine providence as well as confirming His promise to take care of His people. It is also a preview of the Gospel story of the feeding of the 5000 and, ultimately, a foretaste of the Eucharist or Holy Communion.
Bread is an essential food staple for all mankind of all times and cultures. In Jewish culture, today and for centuries, it has been a symbol of “life” and in these stories from the Bible, it is meant to be a symbol of divine life.
The Responsorial Psalm is (78:3 – various). This is a Psalm that sings the praises of God for His goodness and benevolence – again, divine providence. It also is a meditation on the event of God’s feeding the Israelites in the desert and thus “bread” became a symbol of life, both physical and spiritual, for the Jewish people and it should be for all Christians today.
The Second Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (4:17, 20 – 24). What Paul is telling us in this passage is that we must not only receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist but that we must reflect His life within us after we leave the church and go into the world. In other words, Paul is saying that when people of faith receive God in Holy Communion it nourishes their souls and bodies for the purpose reflecting the life of a Catholic/Christian to all mankind. We should not forget that God is within us even from the moment we reach the parking lot. Our Sunday worship extends from one Sunday to the next.
The Gospel Reading is taken from John (6:24 – 35). This Gospel passage follows closely on that of today, after the feeding of the 5000. The people saw Jesus and His apostles moving on to another town and they followed Him. Jesus instructs them about not looking only to fill earthly needs, but to look more deeply into the meaning of the events of the past (as described in the First Reading) and to search out the meaning of such signs and symbols. The last sentence in this passage is the one that we should meditate on frequently with fervor and commitment: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Therefore, “Belief” and “Trust” are the essential ingredients of faith: Belief is another word for faith and an essential interior quality while Trust is its exterior counterpart and, as St. James tells us in his Letter one without the other is no faith at all. (James 2:17). Something to think about during your Prayer Time this week!
-MFB
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Sunday Scripture Commentary – August 2, 2009
The readings for Sunday, August 2, continue the theme and subject of last Sunday’s readings, that of the divine providence of God. Now, we might think that divine providence is experienced only by holy priests and nuns, but that isn’t the case. Sometimes, it falls on those who grumble and complain like in the First Reading. At other times, it falls on those who are in need but are not aware of their needs as in today’s Gospel Reading where Jesus feeds the 5000 because they are unable to supply enough food for themselves. As we have said in the past, God looks out for the faithful and even those who are still searching for Him.
The First Reading is from the Book of Exodus (16:2-4, 12-15). Like today’s First Reading, this passage from Exodus retells the story of God showering ‘manna’ and quail on the Israelites in the desert during the time of Moses and the Exodus. It was a sign of God’s divine providence as well as confirming His promise to take care of His people. It is also a preview of the Gospel story of the feeding of the 5000 and, ultimately, a foretaste of the Eucharist or Holy Communion.
Bread is an essential food staple for all mankind of all times and cultures. In Jewish culture, today and for centuries, it has been a symbol of “life” and in these stories from the Bible, it is meant to be a symbol of divine life.
The Responsorial Psalm is (78:3 – various). This is a Psalm that sings the praises of God for His goodness and benevolence – again, divine providence. It also is a meditation on the event of God’s feeding the Israelites in the desert and thus “bread” became a symbol of life, both physical and spiritual, for the Jewish people and it should be for all Christians today.
The Second Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (4:17, 20 – 24). What Paul is telling us in this passage is that we must not only receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist but that we must reflect His life within us after we leave the church and go into the world. In other words, Paul is saying that when people of faith receive God in Holy Communion it nourishes their souls and bodies for the purpose reflecting the life of a Catholic/Christian to all mankind. We should not forget that God is within us even from the moment we reach the parking lot. Our Sunday worship extends from one Sunday to the next.
The Gospel Reading is taken from John (6:24 – 35). This Gospel passage follows closely on that of today, after the feeding of the 5000. The people saw Jesus and His apostles moving on to another town and they followed Him. Jesus instructs them about not looking only to fill earthly needs, but to look more deeply into the meaning of the events of the past (as described in the First Reading) and to search out the meaning of such signs and symbols. The last sentence in this passage is the one that we should meditate on frequently with fervor and commitment: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Therefore, “Belief” and “Trust” are the essential ingredients of faith: Belief is another word for faith and an essential interior quality while Trust is its exterior counterpart and, as St. James tells us in his Letter one without the other is no faith at all. (James 2:17). Something to think about during your Prayer Time this week!
-MFB
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