HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR B
Theme: Christian life is a series of daily choices either for God or against God.
R1. Joshua 24:1-2,15-18
R/P Psalm 33:2-3,16-23
In the first reading Joshua challenges the people Israel to make a decision if they are to serve the gods of their fathers, the gods of the Amorites in whose county they are presently dwelling, or the God of the Israelites who has done so much for them.
The 2nd reading emphasizes the unity that must exist in the body of Christ and the intimate relationship between Jesus and His followers. It also challenges the Ephesian Christians to make the right choice in life and build christian marriages on mutual respect and love, accepting each other's rights and dignity. Jesus also uses the husband-wife relationship as an analogy to explain the close relationship between Christ and the church. Paul reminds us that Jesus nourishes us, the members of His church, through the Eucharist, making us His own flesh and blood, as husband and wife become one flesh.
Jesus in concluding His long Eucharistic discourse in today's Gospel challenges His Jewish audience, and later His Apostles, to make their choice: to accept Him as the true bread from Heaven who gives them His body and blood as their Heavenly food or to join those who have lost their faith in Jesus and left Him, expressing their confusion and doubts about His claims.
Today's passage describes the various reactions of people to Jesus' claims. Many of the disciples left, but the apostles freely chose to stay with Jesus. In the Eucharistic celebration, we, too, are called to make a decision, profess our faith in God's Son and renew the covenant ratified in His life, death and Resurrection.
Brothers let us make our choice for Christ and live it. We have accepted the challenges of living a religious life let us keep to it. Let it not be the same stories we hear everytime that someone has left the congregation and moved on, let us remain focus and know whom we are following and whom we have decided freely without force to follow. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to Jesus in the community which we belong. Christ's attitudes, thoughts, values, and life-view must become totally ours. Peace be with you all.
Reflection by
Rev. Fr. Kenneth Amara Nwachukwu SMMM
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