O. T. XXI –B- JOSH 24: 1-2, 15-17, 18; EPH 5: 21-32; JN 6: 60-69

A group of Christians gathered for a secret prayer meeting in Russia, at the height of the persecution of all Christian churches. Suddenly the door was broken by the boot of a soldier. He entered the room and faced the people with a gun in his hand. They all feared the worst. He spoke. "If there’s anyone who doesn’t really believe in Jesus, then, get out now while you have a chance." There was a rush to the door. A small group remained - those who had committed themselves to Jesus, and who were never prepared to run from him. The soldier closed the door after the others, and once again, he stood in front of those who remained, gun poised. Finally, a smile appeared on his face, as he turned to leave the room, and he whispered "Actually, I believe in Jesus, too, and

you’re much better off without those others!"  

The main theme of today’s readings is that Christian life is a series of daily choices for God or against God, as we choose to live out or reject the truths He revealed through His prophets in the Old Testament and especially through His Son Jesus in the New Testament. The fundamental choice we make determines how we live our lives, deciding whom we will serve.

The Israelites had just entered the Promised Land, and it was filled with pagans who worshipped many gods. So Joshua told them, "Decide today whom you will serve." The God who brought you from Egypt to this lush, fertile land, or the gods of the Amorites in whose territory you now dwell? The choice is up to you. And while still pondering the decision they must make, he added the now-famous statement, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Fortunately for themselves and their children, they responded, "We also will serve the one Lord God." Notice that Joshua did not just say: As for me I will serve the Lord, but he said, as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. He as the head of his household took the decision to serve the Lord. It is a challenge and an invitation to the heads of the families today to take up the responsibility of making his family follow the Lord. Rather than just say when my children grow up to adulthood they will make the choice themselves.

In today's Gospel, Jesus also puts the choice to His apostles of following Him, or of leaving Him. Many of the Lord's followers had left Him because of His teaching that He Himself is the Bread of Life. If they were willing to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood, they would live forever. Otherwise, they would die. Many were shocked and offended. Others thought the message was too good to be true. So they "walked with him no longer."
Jesus turns to the Twelve and says, "Do you also want to leave?" It's as though He had added, "It's your decision. I'm not going to make your minds up for you!" Fortunately for them and for the future Church, they have enough faith to reply, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

The Old Testament, the New Testament and the history of the Church tell the stories of brave men and women who heroically exercised their freedom of choice for God

and His commandments and courted martyrdom. II Maccabees 6: 18-31 describes how the 90 year old saintly Scribe, Eleazar, welcomed martyrdom instead of eating the flesh of pork. The same book describes another heroic

Jewish mother and seven of her brave children who lost their lives by resisting the order of the Greek commander to reject their Jewish faith. The martyrdom of St. Stephen is described in the Acts of the Apostles. The first three centuries saw

thousands of Christians heroically choosing Christ  and courting the cruel death inflicted by the pagan Roman Empire. St. Thomas More was the second in power in

England and St. John Fisher the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University. Both were executed by King Henry VIII for choosing the teaching of the Church on marriage

and divorce instead of choosing their king’s view. Today’s readings challenge us to make a choice for God and His teachings or against God.

It is high time that we also reflected to find out where we stand, as his followers. Majority of us identify ourselves with the vast crowd that were not able to accept the challenges that Jesus placed before them. Like them we also disappear from the scene. We silently assent to the decisions and practices of the majority, even if there is a constant reminder from our conscience that what we do is not correct. Silently consent the injustice, exploitation and human right violations. Because, we do not want to risk our name; we do not want to risk our positions; we do not want to risk the comforts that we enjoy. Remember Jesus came to comfort the afflicted, but he also afflicted the comfortable in their conscience.

It's a hard teaching the people said to Jesus (Jn 6:60). This applies not only to Jesus' words on the Eucharist, but also to His words on many other things. The message of the cross is absurdity.  There are many former Catholics who find the message of the Church "too much for them." Some have left because of Church doctrine, others because of the stand of the Church on abortion, contraception or same sex marriage.

The heavenly Bread and the Holy Spirit will give us the courage of our Christian convictions to take a stand for Jesus, to accept the Church’s teachings and to face ridicule, criticisms and even social isolation for our adherence to sound Christian principles in our lives.  That is what we mean by our “Amen” while receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. Christ’s thoughts and attitudes, his values, his life-view must become totally ours before we are able to say: as for me and my household I will serve the Lord. There were many things that Peter did not understand when he said yes to follow Jesus. But there was something in Jesus that held him fast to Jesus, that was his personal experience of Jesus. Christian life is not just adherence to a well set doctrine of dogmas, or a credible philosophy, but simply a personal relationship with Jesus. Let’s develop a deep personal relationship with Jesus, so that we will be able to respond to Jesus, Lord, whom shall I go, you have the worlds of eternal life.