The Almighty Gave Them Bread from Heaven

The Almighty Gave Them Bread from Heaven

Psalm 78 is the second longest psalm in the Psalter. The 72 verses of the psalm retell Israel’s history from Abraham to David. Today’s verses tie together the first reading and the Gospel, beginning with the people promising to tell the stories from one generation to the next, always remembering the wonders God has done for them. Today’s verses recall the gift of manna in the desert by proclaiming, “The Almighty gave them bread from heaven.” It is a psalm of faith and hope. As Christians, we find in today’s verses and readings a reference to Christ, the Bread of Life, who continues to be our heavenly food at the eucharistic banquet. We, too, are called to pass the story of salvation history on to generations to come.

I begin with a story heard and known from our elders.
We must not hide this story from our children
but tell the mighty works and all the wonders of God.

God spoke from above: the skies opened,
raining down manna, bread from the heavens.
God gave them plenty, they ate a giant’s portion.

The Israelites were led to God’s sacred land,
the mountain claimed by the Almighty.

[verses adapted from The Psalter © 1995, Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications.]