Introduction to the Liturgy of the Day

Today we hear Joshua ask the tribes of Israel which god they will serve. They had other options, for their neighbors worshiped other gods. We have other options as well. We could choose to serve wealth or status or power or pleasure, allowing something else to lead us and drive us in another direction. But we come here today, along with our families, our friends, our neighbors, as a sign of our commitment to serve the Lord. Let us recommit ourselves to serve God, to follow Christ on our journey through this life to the life promised to us in baptism.
 

Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word

Today’s readings emphasize the need to make a commitment. The tribes of Israel are asked to commit themselves to the god that they choose to serve. Paul speaks about spouses’ commitments to their partners as a parallel to the relationship between Christ and the church. Jesus asks the Twelve if they will commit to continue to follow him. As we listen to God’s word, let us consider how we would answer each challenge and pray that our commitment to our faith be strengthened.
 

Reflection

• Joshua (a variant of the name Jesus) gives his people three options. The gods “beyond the River” (Joshua 24:15) are their distant ancestors’ gods, from before Abraham and Sarah. Nostalgia would inspire this choice. “The gods of the Amorites” (Joshua 24:15) are those of their current non-Jewish neighbors. Choosing this option would ease their acceptance as foreigners. But they all choose to remain loyal to the LORD. After all, their God led them out of slavery, gave them hope during their hardships in the desert, and guided them to the Promised Land. By our baptism, God has rescued us from the slavery of sin, given us the hope of eternal life, and guided us along right paths. Alternate paths may be easier or more socially acceptable, but our moral conscience tells us that these are not the values that will lead us to our eternal home.

• Today’s second reading begins with an unfortunate analogy too reflective of its time, but the second half is the point. Christ is the head of the Church. This is why we often call the Church the body of Christ. Like a married couple’s love, which leads one spouse to sacrifice their own desires for the other, Christ’s love for us—the Church—led him to sacrifice himself for our salvation. His body is the living bread that gives us life eternal.

• A little context might help in today’s Gospel, which begins with “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” (John 6:60). What saying? What did we miss? This: Jesus had just told them that he is the living bread and that in order for them to have life they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. Yes, this is much harder to handle than the multiplication of the loaves and fish, which must have seemed like a lifetime ago. Sadly, but unsurprisingly, many of his disciples bailed. But no matter how confused or shocked the Twelve may have been, Peter drills down at once to the essential truth: “You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Each time we respond Amen we affirm our acceptance of Jesus’ challenging words.
 

Question of the Week

What specific action can I take to show my commitment to remain a disciple of our Lord?