Daily Reflection – Aug 5, 2018

Sunday 5 August 2018

First Reading: EX 16:2-4, 12-15
Responsorial Psalm:
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
PS 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
Second Reading: EPH 4:17, 20-24
Gospel Reading: JN 6:24-35

Today’s Note: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading:

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.”

Reflection:

Be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self. (Ephesians 4:23-24)

There are usually two sections to an epistle by St. Paul. The first section usually focuses on theological teaching, and the second section on practical living. Today’s second reading is no exception.

St. Paul understood that the next step after Baptism and initial conversion was sanctification. Paul knew that we all have many valuable gifts and virtues—kindness, patience, peace, and courage. He also knew that we have many attitudes and philosophies that wage war against these gifts and virtues—anger, maybe, or resentment, lust, or selfishness.

Paul called these virtuous ways the “new self” and he called the sinful ways the “old self.” His approach to this battle is probably still the best way for us to grow in holiness. Simply put, it is “Put away the old self” and “Put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:22, 24).

Paul saw this process of “putting on and putting off” as the true battle going on in our hearts and minds. He was sure that if we could win little battles each day, then we could gradually be transformed into the very likeness of Jesus.

Thinking this way can lead us to conclude that this battle is all up to us. But that is far from the truth. Even Paul, who was as self-confident as they come, believed that he needed God’s help to win the battle. That’s why he liked to emphasize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Galatians 4:6).

So be alert today and every day. Pay attention to the battle going on inside of you. Ask the Spirit to help you see why you acted with kindness and love on one occasion and why you fell to deception or resentment on another occasion. Do this every day, and ask the Spirit to strengthen you for this battle. Over time, you’ll find the “new self” becoming more and more prominent.

“Lord, help me to win the spiritual battle.”