21st SUNDAY, YEAR B: FR. JUSTIN ADIELE
THEME: “CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY THE BREAD OF LIFE”
INTRODUCTION:
For the past four weeks, Jesus has been teaching and offering us the gift of the Eucharist, the bread of life and the sacrament of his own body and blood for the life of the world. Now is the time for us to make our decision or choice; to accept His offer or just walk away as many did during the time of Jesus. Peter and the other apostles made their choice known today, they accepted and stood by Jesus’ offer of the bread of life, believing and trusting in his words and promises. The logic is simple; choose Jesus and choose the Eucharist he offers; walk away from the Eucharist and walk away from Jesus! The choice is yours!
THE FIRST READING (JOSHUA 24: 1–2. 15–18)
In the first reading, Joshua called the assembly of the people of Israel to come open and clean with their own choices: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Choose whom you will follow; choose whom you will accept his offers, his food and his drink. Joshua and the assembly of Israel openly chose God because they knew with Him comes deliverance from their bondage, protection and preservation on their journeys. When we choose to serve, follow and commune with God in the Eucharist, our deliverance from bondage and from mortal, moral, and spiritual dangers is also ensured.
THE SECOND READING (EPH. 5: 21–32)
In the second reading, St. Paul also presented us with another moment of choice and decision making between husband and wife. Husbands must make the tough choice of really loving their wives; and wives must make the hard choice of total submission to their husbands. These choices must be open, sincere, and practically never in doubt. Joshua had to clear his doubts about the choice of the people of Israel between God and idols. St. Paul also wanted the same clarity in the love and respect between every husband and wife. Couples’ mutual love and respect must never be in doubt or hard to tell before the people, just as the love of Christ for his Church was never in doubt.
THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 6: 60–69)
In the gospel reading, while many drew back and walked away from Jesus’ offer of the Eucharist, Jesus like Joshua also wanted his disciples to come out straight about their own choice/decision. He asked them; “will you also go away?” Will you also walk away from my Eucharistic offer? Will you also walk away from my Holy Communion? Peter stood up and cleared every doubt; “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed..,”
CONCLUSION:
Every Catholic has a daily choice and decision to make about the Holy Eucharist. Choose the Eucharist, and you choose Jesus. Choose the Eucharist, and you choose eternal life. Choose the Eucharist, and you choose true family (husband and wife) communion. Choose the Eucharist, and you choose to serve God. Your choice today must be very clear before God and man and never in doubt. Therefore, we must make our choices clear by preparing daily, weekly and monthly to participate and partake in the Eucharistic celebration and Holy Communion with all the faithful.
Happy Sunday!
Fr. Justin