Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost • Year B

Historical Collect

Almighty, eternal God, your kindness is far more than we desire or deserve. Generously pour out your mercy to forgive where our conscience is afraid and to provide that for which by ourselves, we do not even presume to pray; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)

Thematic Collect

Benevolent God, you satisfy hungry hearts and fill them with good things, the bread of heaven. Sustain and nurture us in faith and love by the living bread that is Christ himself; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

A faithless people are never satisfied; they will always find some reason to grumble. Faithful people may cry out to God in their need, but they find reasons to give thanks. Even if they would have more on the table, they are grateful for the food that endures forever, the bread of life. Therefore, the people of God behave with humility, gentleness, and patience because they have been filled to the full measure of Jesus Christ.

First Reading • Exodus 16:2-15

At some point, every pastor will have detractors. There will be one or few who may even cause others to find fault. But there are usually some who stand by their pastor. Moses and Aaron however, put up with the grumbling of “the whole congregation.” No one stood with them as they led them out of slavery and through the wilderness. The people of Israel said that they would rather be dead than have followed God's counsel. They found fault, not with Moses and Aaron, but with God.

Some pastors get angry with their flocks. Yet God met the need of his people, giving them sweet bread in the wilderness. They did not need to plant and cultivate; they only had to receive and eat the bread that God supplied from heaven.

Psalm • Psalm 145:10-21

The eyes of all look to God for their basic needs. If only the wilderness travelers had looked to God for their needs, instead of berating God's servants, they would have walked in a worthy manner. (Eph 4:1) We too, traveling through the wilderness of this life, would do well to look to God instead of chastising others for our conditions. God is faithful and will give the open-handed their food in due season. He is near to all who call upon him for help. He will see you through to the land he has promised.

Second Reading • Ephesians 4:1-16

How childish the Hebrews seem to us as we read of their complaints against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Apostle Paul urges us to grow up too. We are exhorted to walk in a manner that is suitable to followers of Jesus. Patiently loving one another and gently maintaining unity in the Church with the help of God's grace are intrinsic disciplines for maturity in Christ. God has given us what we need for the task. He has furnished apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, to equip us for the work of ministry. Together, we are to build up—not tear down—the Body of Christ until we attain the unity of our faith, being filled with the very fullness of Christ. 

Gospel • John 6:22-35

Whoever looks to God by coming to Christ will never hunger. God has supplied in his Son the true bread of heaven. We must gather each day that heavenly food that eternally endures. In other words, we are to keep believing in the one whom God has sent, his only Son. God gives us the faith to do so. We may trust him completely to continue drawing us to himself, the source of real life.