💖 HOMILY - AUGUST 16 💖

First Reading - Joshua 24:14-29

Gospel - Matthew 19:13-15

Life is full of choices. Some are small and daily; others are life-defining. In today’s first reading, Joshua stands before the people of Israel and calls them to a decision: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” He reminds them of God’s mighty deeds, His faithfulness through the wilderness, and His covenant love. The choice is clear — to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, without compromise. The people respond with commitment, declaring that they too will serve the Lord, for He is their God.

In the Gospel, we see a beautiful echo of this commitment in the simplicity of children. People bring their little ones to Jesus so that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples, perhaps thinking they are protecting His time, try to send them away. But Jesus corrects them: “Let the little children come to me… for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Here, Jesus shows that the heart that chooses God must be like that of a child — trusting, humble, and open.

When we put these two readings together, we see that choosing the Lord is not only about a formal declaration; it is about the posture of our hearts. Joshua’s call demands a conscious decision. Jesus’ welcome of the children shows the spirit in which that decision must be lived — not with pride or self-reliance, but with childlike faith.

In our own lives, the choice to serve God is rarely a one-time event. It must be renewed each day, sometimes in big decisions, often in small and hidden acts of love, forgiveness, and faithfulness. And each time we choose Him, we are saying with our lives what Joshua said with his words: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

May we serve Him with the faith of a child and the perseverance of a disciple, knowing that every choice for God is a step toward the kingdom of heaven.