Lectionary 19, Year B
Proper 14 The Sunday between August 7 and August 13 Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark Green
Next read on .
The Gospel: John 6:35, 41–51
People grumble when Jesus says he is the bread that came down from heaven; he answers that the living bread he gives is his flesh.
What is going on
People grumble when Jesus says he is the bread that came down from heaven. They know his parents, they say, so how can he come from heaven?
Jesus says no one can come to him unless the Father draws them, and that whoever believes has eternal life.
He says he is the living bread, and the bread he will give for the life of the world is his flesh. John’s first readers would hear in this both his death on the cross and the bread of communion.
John 6:35, 41-51
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
41 The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down out of heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, ‘I have come down out of heaven?’ ” 43 Therefore Jesus answered them, “Don’t murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father and has learned, comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father. 47 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
1 Kings 19:4-8
Worn out in the wilderness, Elijah asks to die, but an angel twice wakes him with food and water, and he walks forty days to Horeb.
Read it here
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. Then he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” 5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat!” 6 He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 The LORD’s angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, God’s Mountain.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 34:1-8
A song of praise and thanks to the LORD, who answers, rescues from fear, and invites all to taste and see his goodness.
Read it here
1 I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let’s exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The LORD’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Ephesians 4:25—5:2
Paul urges the Ephesians to speak the truth, put away bitterness and anger, be kind and forgiving, and live in love as Christ loved them.
Read it here
Chapter 4
25 Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 and don’t give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
Chapter 5
1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Some congregations follow the RCL’s other track this Sunday, which reads an Old Testament book straight through over several weeks: 2 Samuel 18:5–9, 15, 31–33 and Psalm 130 in place of the first reading and psalm above.
A question to carry into the week
Jesus says the Father draws people to him. How were you drawn here?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
These readings are told as stories on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
Lectionary 19 (Proper 14) · Revised Common Lectionary, Year B · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.