August 25, 2024 Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
* First Reading: Joshua 24: 1-2a. 15-17.18b
* Second Reading: Ephesians 5:21-32
* Gospel: John 6:60-69
Today’s three readings are very special. Why is it so special? It’s because it says something about our real identity. Our true identity can only be ascertained through the choices we make in our lives.
We always make good or bad choices, right or wrong choices. But these choices we make in life are as a result of our fundamental options we have made in our lives.
In the first reading, from Joshua 24: 1-2a. 15-17.18b) Joshua summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God.
And Joshua said to all the people: “If you be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua made a fundamental option for himself and his family to serve God. When a person makes this kind of option, it entails that the person is ready to make sacrifices and choose a complete life of love.
In our lives, there are two paths – the path of love and the path of selfishness.
Choosing a path of love is neither easy nor comfortable. It demands self-denial, self-giving and control of our passions. So many prefer the other way.
So, the fundamental option made by Joshua is to serve the living God and reject the idols made by human hands.
The people of Israel also made the choice of serving the living God and rejecting the idols.
In the gospel, we hear Peter and other apostles make a fundamental option.
When Jesus told the crowd that they should eat his flesh and drink his blood for his flesh is food and his blood is drink, the people asked, how could they eat his flesh and drink his blood? They eventually left Jesus and stopped moving with him.
This was the time Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”
This is where Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67–69
This is the fundamental option. It’s about fidelity to the person of Jesus by his disciples.
So what is our fundamental option?
Can we say that we have chosen to follow Christ no matter what happens in our lives?
Joshua, the Israelites and the apostlets made an offer fundamental to follow the Lord.
What are your fundamental option?
Who have you chosen to serve? The living God or the god which is made by human hands.
I pray that just as Joshua and Peter made the fundamental option to follow Christ we may do the same.
May Almighty God continue to bless us and protect us from all evil through Christ our Lord Amen.
Rev. Fr. Ambrose Onyeka Anene SDB, is the Parish Priest of Church of the Archangels, Gaduwa, Abuja.
