First Reading - Joshua 24:1-2,15-18
Second Reading - Ephesians 5:21-32
Gospel - John 6:60-69
The freedom to
choose and decide is one of the most profound gifts we possess. Every day, we
are faced with countless decisions, both big and small—decisions about what we
want to accomplish, how we spend our time, and how we interact with others.
These choices shape our lives, our relationships, and, ultimately, our journey
in faith. Today’s readings remind us that our choices are not just ordinary
decisions but are deeply connected to our spiritual journey and our
relationship with God.
In the first
reading, Joshua stands before the people of Israel at a pivotal moment in their
history. After years of wandering in the desert and finally entering the
Promised Land, Joshua presents them with a fundamental choice: to serve the
true God who has led them out of Egypt and sustained them, or to turn away and
serve the false gods of the surrounding nations. This was not just a casual
decision; it was a declaration of their identity and commitment. The people’s
unanimous response was a powerful affirmation of their faith: "We will
serve the Lord, for He is our God." This moment underscores the importance
of choosing God in our lives, recognizing that our faith must be lived out
through deliberate and conscious decisions every day.
In the Gospel,
we encounter a different scenario. Jesus, after teaching about the Eucharist,
faces a moment of rejection. Many of His disciples find His teachings difficult
to accept and decide to walk away. Jesus does not chase after them, nor does He
soften His message to make it more palatable. Instead, He allows them the
freedom to choose, even if that choice means turning away from Him. This
highlights a profound truth: God respects our freedom. He invites us to follow
Him, to embrace His teachings, but He never forces us. Our relationship with
God must be rooted in a free and willing choice to follow Him, even when His
teachings challenge us or demand sacrifice.
Saint Paul, in
his letter to the Ephesians, speaks to another form of choice—one that is made
within the sacred bond of marriage. He exhorts husbands and wives to honor the
commitment they have made to each other, comparing it to the relationship
between Christ and the Church. This choice to love, honor, and respect one
another is not a one-time decision but a daily act of faithfulness and
sacrifice. Just as Christ loves the Church unconditionally, so too are married
couples called to live out their love and commitment each day.
Dear brothers
and sisters, just as we make choices for our daily lives—whether in our
families, our work, or our interactions with others—our decision to follow
Christ is also a choice we must make every day. It’s important to recognize
that in today’s world, many people find it challenging to live out their faith.
For some, practicing Christianity may seem irrelevant or outdated in the face
of modern challenges and ideologies. For others, it may seem like an
unnecessary burden or even a limitation on personal freedom. Yet, the reality
is that following Christ is the ultimate expression of true freedom. It is the
freedom to live in the truth, to love unconditionally, and to find purpose and
meaning beyond the material and fleeting things of this world.
Jesus reminds
us in the Gospel that our ability to choose Him is a grace given by the Father.
This means that our desire to follow Jesus is not something we muster on our
own but is inspired and nurtured by God’s grace. However, while this grace is
freely given, it does not override our freedom. We must still make the choice
to accept and respond to this grace in our lives. For example, our very
presence at Mass today is the result of a choice—a choice that comes from a
deep-seated desire to encounter Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist. We
have decided to be here, to set aside other activities, and to prioritize our
relationship with God.
As we reflect
on this, let us be mindful of the many opportunities we have each day to choose
Christ. Whether we are in moments of joy or difficulty, whether we are filled
with clarity or confusion, Christ is always present, waiting for us to turn to
Him. The Eucharist, in particular, is a powerful encounter with Jesus, where He
offers Himself to us fully—body, blood, soul, and divinity. It is here that we
receive the strength and grace to live out our faith and to make choices that
reflect our commitment to Him.
Let us pray for the grace to choose Jesus every day, to embrace His teachings with an open heart, and to live out our faith with courage and conviction. May we always recognize the presence of Christ in our lives, especially in the Eucharist, and may we respond to His invitation to follow Him with love and gratitude.
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