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HARD SAYINGS – CLEAR CHOICES - 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (8/22/2021)
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Joshua 24:1-2,15-17,18
Psalm 34
Ephesians 5:21-32
John 6:60-69
HARD SAYINGS – CLEAR CHOICES
Today’s readings, like so many in our Sunday liturgies, present us with the demands of God’s revealed word and challenge us to renew our obedience to that word. Joshua calls for a clear decision on the part of the tribes of Israel as to whether or not they intend to serve the Lord. Jesus calls for a decision from his apostles – to leave or to continue following him, despite the “hard saying” about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Likewise, the Lord today asks us for our decision – to live in obedience to his word or to go our own way. His sayings may be hard, but the choice remains clear – “to whom shall we go?”
JOSHUA
This reading is taken from the last chapter in the Book of Joshua. By this time, the once-young assistant to Moses is an old man. He recounts the great deeds the Lord has performed in freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and fighting for them in their battles to occupy the Promised Land.
Throughout this chapter Joshua gives a strong warning for the Israelites not to be corrupted by the pagan nations around them and especially not to fall into idolatry. He challenges them to make the decision to be faithful to the Lord and his commands. Joshua makes his intentions clear in a now-famous passage: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua was the leader of the Israelites, but he was also the head of his family, leading them in the decision to live in obedience to God. As a leader, father, and head of his household, Joshua is a model and example for men today.
GOSPEL
This is the last in the five special gospel readings from John 6 concerning the Bread of Life. As Jesus concludes this discourse, many of his disciples find that it’s just too much for them: “This saying is hard: who can accept it?” Unfortunately, there are many who react in exactly the same way to the some of the sayings in God’s word.
Jesus makes no apology but says very bluntly: “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Throughout the gospels, this is the case – some who are called “disciples” do not really believe in Jesus and his word. Many of these departed after this incident and Jesus asked the Twelve if they want to go as well. Simon Peter answers for the group, “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.” May we all say the same!
EPHESIANS
Speaking of “hard sayings,” some might consider the teaching in Ephesians on God’s order for family life to be one of those, especially this statement: “Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church…”
While St. Paul is stating this principle, he also states others, equally true and important: “Be subordinate to one another out of reverence to Christ…Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her…husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.” (Personally, I have always thought that husbands have the more difficult requirement here!)
Order in family life has to be lived out by self-sacrificing love by both husbands and wives. That is the only way it will work.
SPIRIT AND LIFE
How can we make the choice to serve the Lord alone? How can we stay with Jesus as he promises his flesh and blood as food and drink?
How can we obey the Lord’s word regarding order in family life? Jesus gives us the answer: “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.”
When Jesus ascended to the Father, he sent the Holy Spirit upon us. So, this, then, is the key to the “hard sayings” that seem daunting to us: they are only possible through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27)
