[Joshua 24:1-2,15-17,18; Psalm 33; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69]

There are obvious parallels in our first reading from the Book of Joshua and in the Gospel we hear today. In the first reading, we hear how Joshua: who has by this time taken the Jewish people into the land of milk and honey following the death of Moses; gathers all of the tribes together and asks them to renew the covenant with promises to the Lord. He does this because in the 40 years of wandering, the original group of escaped slaves had been joined by various tribes; so not all of them had been present at the original covenant. Joshua gives them a choice between serving the Lord who had saved them or serving other gods. Thankfully the people chose the Lord.

In the Gospel, some of those who hear the words of Jesus, describe his words as intolerable, other translations describe it as difficult or hard. This of course could mean that they found it difficult to understand or difficult to accept or maybe even both. These followers decided they could not follow Jesus because of this. When Jesus saw there were only a few left, He asked the Twelve, ‘what about you, do you want to go away too?’ Here we have St Peter speaking up, on behalf of the twelve. St Peter did not find it any easier or clearer than the others; the difference is that St Peter chose to believe and accept the words of Jesus. Those who wandered away had had their faith eaten away by the malcontents, in other words, those who complain at every turn, those people who destroy dreams or burst people’s bubbles.

In the challenge given by Joshua, the majority accepted the covenant from the Old Testament. In the challenge given by Jesus for the New Covenant in the New Testament, it appears only a few remained behind. We have the same choice today, do we accept that the bread and wine is changed into the Body and Blood of Christ? Or do we allow those who decry our faith to eat away at what we believe in?

In the second reading we hear from St Paul that the relationship between Christ and the Church is similar to the relationship a husband has with his wife. It is a relationship of respect and mutual submission to one another in love. Building a healthy home where God is loved and revered. Enshrining God in the home and following Christ’s teachings; making every Christian home a domestic church.[1]

When we prepare couples for the Baptism of their young children, we remind them that they are the first teachers of their children, that they are to bring the children up in the faith of the Church. We speak about ensuring their home is one where prayers are said and explain how prayer can be a great way of them helping their children to grow and articulate the fears and joys in their life. This comes out of being a domestic church.

We are like the people in the first reading and the followers of Jesus in today’s Gospel.  The people of Joshua 1300 years before Christ and us 2000 years after the birth of Jesus are united in that we can choose to follow the true God who rescued us.  The Israelites forefathers were rescued from slavery in Egypt, and they made the choice to follow God based on the signs God worked and how He rescued them despite their many failings.  We have been rescued from the slavery of sin by Jesus conquering death.  We can choose to follow the other gods – the world’s way, things like pursuit of wealth, success, recognition, selfishness, apathy towards others etc. – or to follow Jesus.  Will we be like the followers of Jesus who heard Jesus speak, found it difficult to understand, difficult to accept and walk away.  Or will we be like Peter and the other apostles, who, as I said earlier, no doubt found it difficult to hear, difficult to understand as well, but stayed because they had faith in Jesus? 

We face this challenge every day when we are tempted to sin; how we respond will affect our eternal future.  Do we pick and choose the parts of the Church’s teaching which appeal to us or suit our current desires?  If we are in doubt about Church teaching, do we try to find out what is correct, or do we decide based on what we want to do?  I know that in the past I have made decisions, which I am not proud of, which if I had read a little bit more or heard a priest or a deacon speak about at Mass then perhaps my decisions would have been different.  As Christians we have an obligation to live as Jesus wants us to live. This means finding out what Jesus taught and not making it up as we go along.  When we find ourselves hearing something in the teachings of the Church which we find uncomfortable we need to ask ourselves what is it that disconcerts me?  What is it about this that troubles me?  Give it some thought, seek out a priest or a religious or even a deacon, ask them to help you understand.  Then when you have thought about it, put yourself in the middle of today’s Gospel, with Jesus standing in front of you and saying to you “What about you, do you want to go away too?”

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 796: the Church as the Bride of Christ
CCC 1061-1065: God’s utter fidelity and love
CCC 1612-1617, 2360-2365: marriage in the Lord

Please keep in your prayers this week

  • The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
  • Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
  • Our young people who have received their exam results recently, that we rejoice with those who are happy with their results and console those who are disappointed.
  • Those with mental health issues.

Deacon Tony

24th August 2024

[1] Oseagwina Jerome Ituah OCD, Pastoral Review Vol 20. Issue 3, [The Tablet Publishing Company, Twickenham, London, 2024] 80.