The liturgical readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, present a profound tapestry of faith, commitment, and the essence of the Christian journey. The first reading from the Book of Joshua (Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b) is a pivotal moment where Joshua challenges the Israelites to reaffirm their covenant with God, rejecting the idols of foreign lands and serving the Lord with fidelity.
This passage echoes through time, reminding us of the constant need to renew our own commitment to God amidst the distractions and false idols of our age.
The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21) invites us to "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord," a call to experience God's grace personally and profoundly. It is a reminder that faith is not merely an intellectual assent but an experiential encounter with the divine, which brings solace and rescue to those in distress.
The second reading from the Letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32) delves into the metaphor of marriage to describe the relationship between Christ and the Church. It speaks of mutual submission out of reverence for Christ, highlighting the sacrificial love that should characterize the bond between husband and wife, mirroring the self-giving love of Christ for His Church.
The Gospel according to John (John 6:60-69) concludes the Bread of Life discourse, where many disciples find Jesus' teaching on eating His flesh and drinking His blood difficult to accept. This moment of crisis leads to a sifting of true followers, as Peter confesses, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." It is a stark reminder of the challenges inherent in embracing the fullness of faith and the call to unwavering belief in Jesus as the Holy One of God.
These readings collectively challenge us to consider where our loyalties lie and to whom we give our ultimate allegiance. They invite us to reflect on the nature of our relationship with God, the depth of our faith, and the authenticity of our commitment. As we ponder these scriptures, we are encouraged to ask ourselves if we, like the Israelites, are ready to serve the Lord alone, to truly taste His goodness, to love sacrificially as Christ loves the Church, and to embrace the sometimes difficult teachings of Jesus with the conviction of Peter.
Jesus asks us: Will you leave as well? Will we become cowards in the face of tribulations and hard teachings or will we be firm and like Peter says, "To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." This is what we need to think about today as we prepare to receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
Today's Gospel reminds us that Jesus was serious about being the literal Bread of Life. The Eucharist is not a symbol and Jesus' words, His reaction, and the reaction of His audience prove this. He was dead serious. He did not stop the people who left saying, "Hey, wait a minute! I was kidding." He let them go.
A few days ago we learned of the apostasy of a Puerto Rican Catholic convert who left Pentecostalism to join the Catholic Church. Fernando Cassanova was popular with EWTN and gave many conferences focusing on his conversion. However, he announced that he was leaving the Catholic Church in favor of the Lutheran sect. Despite being educated in the faith, he chose to leave. This tells us that his conversion was not ongoing. It did not internalize. He is leaving the Church for another reason he is not honestly telling us, it is not an intellectual one.
He like the Jews in the conclusion of John 6 found the teachings too hard and left. We must pray for him and the many others who are not brave and humble enough to accept Jesus and His teachings. They prefer a created Jesus and a created man-made sect over the one who has the words of eternal life. Conversion is ongoing. It is not something that happens once and overnight. Anyone who thinks he or she converted and is holy only fools him or herself. This is when satan comes laughing and causes one to fall. Before the fall comes pride!
In a world that often presents us with a multitude of choices and paths, these readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time call us back to the fundamental decision of faith: choosing to serve the Lord in a covenant of love that demands our whole heart, soul, and strength. May we find the grace to renew our commitment and to walk steadfastly in the way of Christ.
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