Strengthened by the Bread of Life
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” John 6:51
Today we resume the “Bread of Life” discourse from John’s Gospel that began two weeks ago. He makes reference to the Jews’ ancestors who ate manna in the desert. These days we would think primarily of Israel wandering in the desert, but faithful Jews would also have known the story of Elijah that we hear today. Strengthened by food and drink in the desert, the angel of the Lord sends him on his forty-day and forty-night journey (the biblical number for a preparation time). Like the food given to Elijah in the desert, Jesus tells his listeners that he is bread for the life of the world. It is very important that we not stop listening to Jesus after his promise of eternal life—a marvelous promise, but this “reward” is not the only reason we feast on the Bread of Life. We also come to the table to be made strong for the journey of mission, that the whole world might have life in the fullness of Christ. We are compelled, if we have eaten of the bread of life, to go forth in service to all.
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Readings for the Week
Monday: Ez 1:2-5, 24-28c; Ps 148:1-2, 11-14; Mt 17:22-27
Tuesday: Ez 2:8 — 3:4; Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
Wednesday:
Vigil: 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2; Ps 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14; 1 Cor 15:54b-57; Lk 11:27-28
Day: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Ps 45:10-12, 16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56
Thursday: Ez 12:1-12; Ps 78:56-59, 61-62:Mt 18:21 — 19:1
Friday: Ez 16:1-15, 60, 63 or 16:59-63; Is 12:2-3, 4bcd-6; Mt 19:3-12
Saturday: Ez 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32; Ps 51:12-15, 18-19; Mt 19:13-15
Sunday: Prv 9:1-6; Ps 34:2-7; Eph 5:15-20; Jn 6:51-58
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday: Ss. Pontian and Hippolytus
Tuesday: St. Maximilian Kolbe
Wednesday: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday: St. Stephen of Hungary
Saturday: Blessed Virgin Mary