Introduction to the Liturgy of the Day

Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word

Reflections

• Who—or what—is the god that you serve? Whose will do you choose to fol low? Who—or what—is at the center of your life? When Joshua holds out options before the Chosen People, he speaks of gods whom their forebears worshiped before God called Abraham as well as gods of the peoples whose land they now occupied. A comparable challenge to us today may speak not so much of other religions but of other entities that one may serve. You may choose to serve wealth or status, putting the acquisition of both at the center of your life, view ing billionaires and CEOs as the people most worthy of imitation and respect. You may choose to serve yourself, putting yourself at the center of your life and asking yourself, “What’s in it for me?” before making any decision. Even if we are not so extreme, we may have some of that in us. This is a good opportunity to recommit yourself to serve God, to follow God’s will, and to look forward to one day being with God in eternity.

• Commitment is difficult. How often do we resolve to commit to something—daily exercise, a new diet, a volunteer program—but let it slide after a few months or even just a few days? Nevertheless, Joshua asks us to commit to serving God, to discerning God’s will and carrying it out in this world. Paul asks those who are married to commit to their spouse. He asks that all Christians commit themselves to the community, the Church, for it is the body of Christ. Jesus asks us to commit to follow him, no matter how difficult. Can we commit to this: to serve God, to remain committed to the Church and to our spouses, and to carry our crosses as we follow the Lord?

• The opening of the second reading is certainly problematic in this day and age, but we must keep in mind the unquestioned patriarchal structure of the time. By emphasizing that both husband and wife must “be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), Paul is turning the mar riage structure by ninety degrees. Married love subjects each partner to each other, for both become willing to sacrifice their own interests out of love for their partner. But, Paul says, put Christ above all, for he has given us the very model of sacrifice, sacrificing his privilege to become flesh, sacrificing his will to his Father’s, sacrificing his life for his bride, the Church: us.

Question of the Week
How do I sacrifice my will to follow God’s? What have I committed to do or what will I commit to do in order to serve God and to serve God’s people?

-from Pastoral Patterns

LISTEN HERE to the Audio Recordings of the Readings of Sunday, August 25, 2024

SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, August 25, 2024

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