It is hard to believe that it is already August! But it is. Let us keep in mind the Pope's Intention for August: The Church. Let us pray for the Church, that she may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the Gospel. Let us also remember that Covid - 19 is still around and getting worse in many parts of the country. Maybe we have let our guard down thinking it is all over. The CDC recommends wearing masks again in large gatherings indoors. Hand washing is important as well. Be careful.
Our Gospel today continues to tell us about the Eucharist. Jesus says: "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." He goes on to tell us: "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." And he finishes with "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." As he says, this involves real work, especially when much of society doesn't want to follow him. I hope and pray we all mean it when we sing: I have decided to follow Jesus!
Our first reading tells us how God fed his people in the desert. They were not desert people and did not know how to survive in the desert and so God sent them bread from heaven that they called manna. "In the morning a dew lay all about the camp, and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground." "But Moses told them, 'This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat."' This bread kept them alive in the desert for 40 years. When Jesus offers us the Eucharist, he offers us his body and blood for eternal life.
In our second reading, ST. Paul tells us that if we believe in Jesus we have to put away our old way of life "and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth." We have to remember our Alleluia Verse: "One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."
We continue with our Masses on Sunday at 8:15 and 10:30 AM. Children's Church has returned. The 10:30 Mass is still put on our webpage in the early afternoon at
http://www.SaintAugustineParish.org. The Soup Kitchen is open MWF from 11 AM - 12:30 PM. We can always use extra help. Our Vincent de Paul still visits the needy with aid. There is also our Friday Discussion Group on Zoom. Cheryl Ashe has the connection for this. This week's Today's Catholic has a story on Deacon and Annie Tardy, with some nice pictures. In September we will begin classes for those who need sacraments. If you are interested please see Deacon Mel or me to sign up. Thank y'all once again for your continued support of our parish. We really are all in this together.