11th Sunday after Pentecost 2024

Welcome to St. John the Divine Episcopal Church! On August 4, 2024, we will celebrate the 11th Sunday after Pentecost with a Rite 2 Mass. This service allows us to unite in worship, song, and reflection on the Word of God.

Readings for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost 2024

Old Testament: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15

The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day, the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.”

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.'” And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.'”

In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”

Psalm: Psalm 78:23-29

So he commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven.
He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them grain from heaven.
So mortals ate the bread of angels; he provided for them food enough.
He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens and led out the south wind by his might.
He rained down flesh upon them like dust and winged birds like the sand of the sea.
He let it fall in the midst of their camp and round about their dwellings.
So they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.

Epistle: Ephesians 4:1-16

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said,
“When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;
he gave gifts to his people.”
(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Gospel: John 6:24-35

So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'”

Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who 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.” 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 be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Reflection on the Readings

This Sunday’s readings center on God’s provision and nourishment from faith in Him. In Exodus, God provides manna and quail to the Israelites in the wilderness, a powerful reminder of His care and sustenance.

Psalm 78 recounts the miracles in the wilderness, emphasizing God’s faithfulness in providing for His people even in challenging times.

In Ephesians, Paul calls us to live a life worthy of our calling, stressing the importance of unity, maturity, and growth in Christ. This passage encourages us to build up the body of Christ in love and truth.

The Gospel of John presents Jesus as the “bread of life,” inviting us to seek the spiritual nourishment that only He can provide. Jesus challenges us to look beyond our physical needs and recognize the deeper hunger that only He can satisfy.

Hymns for the Service

The following hymns will uplift our worship:

• Hymn 302: Father, We Thank You
• Hymn 690: Guide Me, O Great Jehovah

These hymns reflect our gratitude for God’s guidance and provision and our faith journey under His care.

Join Us in Worship

We invite you to attend Rite 2 Mass at 9 a.m. in person at 116 E Chandler Blvd or through our live stream. Let us come together to worship, sing, and reflect on the powerful messages of the scriptures. Whether you are a long-time member or a first-time visitor, you are welcome at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church.

Let us gather to celebrate the Lord’s provision and seek the spiritual nourishment that comes from Christ, the bread of life. See you on Sunday!