One of the key questions in the Penny Catechism Booklet that gives a thorough insight to our Christian faith as human being is “Why did God made you?” and the answer states that “God made us to know him, to love him, to serve him in this world and to be happy with him for forever in heaven”. This response gives us the summary of today’s liturgical readings and reflections. Hence, if we as God’s creature did not get to know God, love him and serve him, then we would have failed to realise the essence and purpose of our life on earth.
In order words, one who lives his or her life without believing and serving God would be tagged to have spent an unfruitful and failed life. In today’s first reading we saw the servant of God Joshua gathering all the tribes of Isreal to Shechem, presenting them before the Altar of God and asking them to choose who to serve. Before they could decide Joshua said “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” . This shows an act of commitment and a heart fully devoted to serve the Lord, not just himself but the whole of his family. Joshua has demonstrated his love for God and he has also acted according to what the bible says in the book of Deuteronomy 6:5-7 which says: “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be in your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you rise”. My dear Friends in Christ there is a lot to serve God for, not because of what He has done for us but because of who He is. Scripture says “It is in Him we live, we move and have our being” cf Acts 17:28. when we cut away or disconnect from him we can not be fruitful. When we know and believe who God is we will realize without doubting that He deserves an outstanding service and love from us.
This mandate of serving and loving God should always be heralded by the Church in order to heal the world and get more disciples in building God’s kingdom here on earth. To this end, the second reading emphasizes the unity that must exist in the Body of Christ and the intimate relationship between Jesus and His followers. It also challenges us to make the right choice in life and build Christian marriages on mutual respect and love, accepting each other’s rights and dignity. Today’s Scriptural reading uses the husband-wife relationship as an analogy to explain the close relationship between Christ and the Church. It shows us the right way to act as family of God’s people.
It entails unity with each other in Christ, being kind to one another, tender-hearted, showing respect, responsibility and forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven us. Little wonder, Mother Theresa said “if you want to change the world go home and love your family”. Our Christian spirituality is a vertical and horizontal love and service (unto God and unto our neighbours). However, as common as this saying of service and love of God might sound to the hearing, it is evident from the biblical era till our time that many have disregarded, failed and refuse to believe in this purposeful direction of God. In today’s gospel we observed the hesitation and murmuring of some disciples to the teachings of Christ. Notwithstanding, Jesus was not too concerned about numbers.
The gospels for the last four sundays have been taken from chapter 6 of John’s gospel where Jesus speaks of himself as the Bread of Life and of the need to eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to have life. In today’s experience some disciples expressed their objections against the word of God. ‘This is a hard saying’, they say, ‘who can listen to it?’ Jesus was very aware that some of his followers were complaining. Yet, he did not make any effort to soften his teaching in order to hold on to his numbers. Rather, he insists that the words he has been speaking are from his Heavenly Father, which bears spirit and eternal life. My dear people of God, from the above readings we must learn to make right choices in life.
To choose God and reject satan, do good and avoid evil, unite in love and avoid hatred, hold strong to the truth and reject falsehood, believe in the true Gospel of Christ and renounce the works of satan, follow the ways of Christ and abhor the deceit of the devil. Let us always remember to carry our family along in good deeds and choice just as Joshua. The Family is indeed a domestic Church. And as such, it should be holy and dedicated to the responsibility of knowing God in true service and love. When we choose to come before the Lord in truth and sincerity of heart to do his will, we will realize that he is good all the time. Hence, the Responsorial Psalm says “Taste and see that the Lord is good”.
