August 23, 2009 Cycle B
Joshua 24 Ephesians 5:21-32 John 6:60-69
It is reported that most of us start making conscious decisions around the age of two. That is the year that we learn to say “no.” If we can say “no,” one presumes that we’re giving tacit assent to those events we don’t resist. In this way many of us form a lifelong pattern of compliance, until we can’t bare the momentum around us. Then we seem to put our foot down. There are others who turn “no” into a lifestyle by being generally cantankerous, or perhaps genuinely motivated to protest popular opinions and values. A few of us do something really radical: we learn to say, “yes” clearly and decisively. Choosing the positive purposefully, rather than drifting into it without dissent, is an unusual stance. It is also the ideal attitude for discipleship.
Today’s readings are about vocational choices. In the first reading Joshua, the successor of Moses, gathers the people at the Shrine in a land known later as Samaria. Joshua realizes that the generations born after the Sinai experience are in danger of failing in their covenant of commitment to God who gave them the Promised Land. Joshua realizes that he has a big job to do. He wants to make sure that this nation does not drift across the river on the banks of the Jordan idly or thoughtlessly: in effect going back on their covenant.
Follower-ship is meaningless if it is mindless. Checking your will at the door of your leader is not what fidelity requires. So Joshua addresses the people plainly, asking them to make a choice. Say “yes” or say “no,” but speak your intentions out loud. Make sure you know what you are choosing when you choose to inhabit the land of promise. If you are truly God’s people then embrace that role comprehensively. But don’t stumble blindly into this identity because it will not fit and the discomfort will only grow wider.
Certainly one of the models for commitment in faith is the Covenant of Marriage. This is an example of where every decision is tempered by love. And in these days when America’s obsession with high profiled marriage flames out – witness our celebrities and politicians. We pray that all could find a lasting union so that we can raise the next generation to protect and teach it, to instill in it the habits of conduct and character that will ensure the generations own safe passage into adulthood.
It’s obvious that we have a lot to do to go against some of the ambivalence that we find today towards the institution of marriage. That is why we celebrate with great affection the anniversaries of you who have been in covenantal relationship, whether it is 10, 20, 40 or 50 years. Authentic relationships and fidelity to the Sacrament of Marriage helps all to live out their Christian vocation and faith. For we are challenged to believe the Word of God in the same way that the people of Israel struggled with their difficulties and high stakes in the Promised Land. We are further challenged to accept the gift of deep faith as the saying goes “Let go and let God.”
Rather than being confused and over focused on the social and cultural difficulties of Paul’s writings to the Ephesians, we might recognize that he clearly understood household relations as having been transformed in Christ. As marriage is a mystery of love, so is the love of Jesus for the people of God.
Finally as we turn again to the 6th Chapter of John, Jesus speaks out loud and clear the challenging message of who He is and what it means to follow Him. Many of those who have been drifting along behind Him are happy to see Him trash the Temple to profiteers, intrigued by His bold teaching, or delighted with the free food, but are now appalled to consider that discipleship will cost them something very dear. They turn away. They say “no.”
Jesus does not try to talk anyone out of their refusal or to argue his case further. He does not persuade the undecided with extra benefits. Instead he offers an additional challenge to those who remain at His side. He teaches that’s it’s not good enough to linger on, to drift forward with Him by default. Not refusing Him is not the same as choosing Him. Jesus wants to know where these hanger-on’s stand. “Do you want to leave Me too?” The twelve apostles have reached the hour where they must declare themselves “yes” or “no.”
Peter answers for the other Apostlest, but sooner or later they must answer for themselves. And so in the long run, do we!!
Amen. Amen. Msgr. Tom, Pastor Christ the King