Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 4, 2024

Date: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  John 6:24-35

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"

Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal."

So, they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?"  Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."

So, they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat." So, Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." So, they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel for today brings us a portion of Jesus’ “Bread of Life Discourse” from the Gospel of John. In it, Jesus reveals to the disciples and crowd that He is sent from the Father to bring life to the world and that whoever comes to Him and believes in Him will be fulfilled – will have life.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I wholly and without reservation come to Christ as Son of God, my savior?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only begotten Son to us so that we might have life and have it in abundance. Through Him, His words and actions, He revealed your great love for us. Through His sacrifice, He vanquished sin and death. Send your Spirit to wholly illuminate my mind and to fully seize my heart so that I might completely acknowledge and proclaim that He is Son of God, my Savior. I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.