Work for bread which gives eternal life

Welcome to my blog and peace be with you.

You will find here daily readings from the Bible and a prayerful reflection on them. Through daily reading and reflection on the Word of God, we grow as human beings.

All human beings have spiritual longings. The Word of God satisfies them.

May you experience the joy intended for you by God.

Friday 7 August 2020

Work for bread which gives eternal life

Ps 69: 2, 6

O God, come to my assistance;

O Lord, make haste to help me!

You are my rescuer, my help;

O Lord, do not delay.

 

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Prayer

Draw near to your servants, O Lord,

and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness,

that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide,

you may restore what you have created

and keep safe what you have restored.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 

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First reading

Nahum 2:1,3,3:1-3,6-7

Israel restored; Nineveh ruined

See, over the mountains the messenger hurries!

‘Peace!’ he proclaims.

Judah, celebrate your feasts,

carry out your vows,

for Belial will never pass through you again;

he is utterly annihilated.

Yes, the Lord is restoring the vineyard of Jacob

and the vineyard of Israel.

For the plunderers had plundered them,

they had broken off their branches.

Woe to the city soaked in blood,

full of lies,

stuffed with booty,

whose plunderings know no end!

The crack of the whip!

The rumble of wheels!

Galloping horse,

jolting chariot,

charging cavalry,

flash of swords,

gleam of spears...

a mass of wounded,

hosts of dead,

countless corpses;

they stumble over the dead.

I am going to pelt you with filth,

shame you, make you a public show.

And all who look on you will turn their backs on you and say,

‘Nineveh is a ruin.’

Could anyone pity her?

Where can I find anyone to comfort her? THE WORD OF THE LORD

Prayerful reflection

God is the Lord of history. This is the message proclaimed by the prophet. This is still true today. We, intellectually very limited human beings, do not understand how he works out his lordship, but he is Lord. Nineveh was overthrown in the year 612 B.C. by the Medes and Babylonians. It went the way of all flesh. The glory of this world, whether it is money, power, prestige, and pleasure, passes away. Very often, it passes suddenly and forever.  Even while we have it, it does not give full satisfaction. There is always a further longing in our hearts.

The wise person looks for and strives to attain that which will give joy forever. This comes from knowing God through knowing Jesus.

What do you look for in life? Do you search for the bread that gives eternal life?

 

Psalm

Deuteronomy 32:35-36,39,41

It is the Lord who deals death and life.

It is close, the day of their ruin;

their doom comes at speed.

For the Lord will see his people righted,

he will take pity on his servants.

It is the Lord who deals death and life.

See now that I, I am He,

and beside me there is no other god.

It is I who deal death and life;

when I have struck it is I who heal.

It is the Lord who deals death and life.

When I have whetted my flashing sword

I will take up the cause of Right,

I will give my foes as good again,

I will repay those who hate me.

It is the Lord who deals death and life.

 

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1Sam3:9,Jn6:68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:

you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

 

 

Gospel

Matthew 16:24-28

Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?

‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour. I tell you solemnly, there are some of these standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom.’ THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

Prayerful reflection

We can’t follow anyone sitting in our armchair. Likewise, if we want to follow Jesus, we must live our life as he lived his. The characteristic of the life of Jesus is his obedience to the will of his Father come-what-may. To live like this is to follow Jesus. God reveals his will for the most part in the duties of our state of life. A husband’s or a wife’s duties are very clear most of the time. A priest’s duty is also clear. Occasionally we must discern what God wants us to do in certain circumstances. The will of God comes first. Hence when we want to do something else, as may happen every day, we must deny ourselves. Doing his will may cause us great hardship, it may even cost us our lives in times of persecution. Then for his sake, we must lose our life. There is no loss in serving Jesus. He returns life with glory. Believing this, martyrs have filled the history of the Church.

How is your following of Jesus?

 

Jn 6: 35

I am the bread of life, says the Lord;

whoever comes to me will not hunger

and whoever believes in me will not thirst.

 

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Prayer

Accompany with constant protection, O Lord,

those you renew with these heavenly gifts

and, in your never-failing care for them,

make them worthy of eternal redemption.

Through Christ our Lord.