First reading
Exodus 16:2–4, 12–15
The Lord sends manna from heaven.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 77(78):3–4, 23–25, 54
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Second reading
Ephesians 4:17, 20–24
Put aside your old self and put on the new.
Gospel acclamation
Matthew 4:4
No one lives on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Gospel
John 6:24–35
It is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven; I am the bread of life.
Images from the Word
- Look for Jesus
- Food that endures
- Bread from heaven
- Rain down bread
- Aimless kind of life
Liturgical notes
In the Universal Prayer or Prayer of the Faithful, the people respond in some sense to the Word of God which they have received in faith and, exercising the office of their baptismal priesthood, offer prayers to God for the salvation of all. It is desirable that there usually be such a form of prayer in Masses celebrated with the people, so that petitions may be offered for holy Church, for those who govern with authority over us, for those weighed down by various needs, for all humanity, and for the salvation of the whole world.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §69
We gather for Mass as the priestly people of God and exercise that priesthood in many ways during the celebration. In the prayer of the faithful, we join in Jesus’ priestly prayer of intercession for the needs of our world. Because of the diverse needs in each community, it is important for each community to prepare their own texts to reflect that diversity. Then the prayer is the prayer of this assembly of the faithful.
‘O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me! You are my rescuer, my help; O Lord, do not delay’
—entrance antiphon