Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord - Daily Bible Readings August 16,2015

1ST READING   Today, wisdom is ignored and emotions rule arguments. Emotive arguments will not help us find the truth. The truth is an objective fact that carries across all situations and all people. On the other hand, emotive arguments rely on single instances from individuals. Sometimes they will get it right, but more often than not, self-interest will distort the truth.   Proverbs 9:1-6 1 Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; 2 she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. 3She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: 4 “Let whoever is simple turn in here; to the one who lacks understanding, she says, 5 Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! 6 Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.   P S A L M   Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. 1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4]Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6]Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R)     2ND READING St. Paul encourages the use of wisdom in our lives. We need to seek the truth and not just rely on how we “feel” about a particular situation. The individualistic nature of society today sees opinions as sources of truth. Our feelings can be wrong in assessing of a certain situation. The truth rests in the person of God, the author of all good. Let us seek His wisdom and instruction when making moral decisions.   Ephesians 5:15-20 15 Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, 16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. 18 And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.   GOSPEL   Jesus declares that He is the Bread of Life who came down from heaven. This is a difficult text to understand unless you believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Let us pray for a deeper understanding of the Eucharist as we seek to grow in our faith.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.   John 6:51-58 51 Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” 52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”53 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”   think: Let us pray for a deeper understanding of the Eucharist as we seek to grow in our faith.   T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________   ____________________________________   God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________   READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Job 6-9 SABBATH PAUSE My weekly time with God   THANK YOU LIST Things to be grateful for from the past week ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________   SPECIAL NEEDS Things to ask God for in the coming week ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________   HIDDEN TREASURE                                                                           Most important word God told me this week  ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________