Twenty-first Sunday in OT ‘B’

The main theme of today’s readings is that Christian life is a series of daily choices for God or against God, as we choose to live out or reject the truths He has revealed through His prophets in the Old Testament and especially through His Son Jesus in the New Testament. The fundamental choice we make determines how we live our lives, deciding whom we will serve.

In the First Reading, Joshua challenges the Israelites to decide whom they will serve, the gods of the Amorites in whose country they were then dwelling or the God of Israelites Who has done so much for them. The Renewal of Covenant ceremony in Joshua chapter 24 reminds us that the Eucharist is a Covenant meal that calls for a decision of Faith.

The Second 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 spouse’s rights and dignity. He 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.

Concluding His long Eucharistic discourse, Jesus, in today’s Gospel, challenges His Jewish audience to make their choice of accepting Him as the true Bread from Heaven Who gives His Body and Blood as their Heavenly Food or of joining those who have lost their Faith in Him and left him, expressing their confusion and doubts about His claims. Today’s passage describes the various reactions of the people to Jesus’ claims. Jesus gives His twelve apostles the option of leaving Him or staying with Him. The apostles exercise their freedom of choice by choosing to stay with Jesus.

In this 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.

Let us make our choice for Christ and live it. We Christians have accepted the challenge of following the way of Christ and making choices for Christ, fortified by the Bread He gives and relying on the power of his Holy Spirit. The Heavenly Bread and the Holy Spirit will give us the courage of our Christian convictions to take a stand for Jesus, to face criticisms and even social isolation for our adherence to sound Christian principles in our lives. That is what we mean by our “Amen” while receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. We express without any conditions or reservations our total commitment to Him in the community to which we belong. Christ’s thoughts and attitudes, His values, His life-view must become totally ours. Above all, we are to identify with Him in the offering of His Flesh and the pouring out of His Blood on the cross by spending our lives for others.