We believe and know
Twenty First Sunday - Year B
Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Ephesians 5:21-32: John 6:60-69
The liturgy of the Word presents us with a choice. In the first reading, the choice is between true God and local deities. In the gospel, it is between following Christ or returning home. Finally, the second reading is about the correct understanding of marriage. How to make the right choice?
The most important event in the Old Testament was the establishment of the Covenant on Mount Sinai during the time of Moses (Ex. 24:1-11). God promised to protect and bless His people and the nation committed themselves to serve, honor, and obey God (Ex. 19:4-8). But God also promised to punish the nation if they go after other gods (Josh. 24:20). In today's first reading Joshua and the people renew that covenant. Israel’s decision to serve the Lord (Josh. 24:18) would affect their destiny: in a positive way when they were faithful to the covenant and in a tragic way when they worshipped other gods.
"This saying is hard; who can accept it?"(John 6:60). The Jews grumbled about the mystery of Christ (John 6:41-42) and the disciples were offended by the mystery of the Eucharist. Both mysteries are related. Jesus Christ is the Son of God - having divine nature and the Son of Man - possessing human nature: “I am the bread of life that came down from heaven” (John 6:51). At the center of the Eucharist are “the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood“ (CCC, 1330). Jesus Christ died for our sins and the sins of the world (1 John 2:2): “This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). The Eucharist is “the Holy Sacrifice because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Savior” (CCC, 1330).
There is another hard saying in today’s liturgy: "Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord" (Eph. 5:22); "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her" (Eph. 5:25). A saying is hard either because we cannot grasp its meaning or because it opposes our desire. Jesus' words are “spirit and life” (John 6:63) but “wisdom is unpleasant to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her” (Sirach 6:20-21). Thus, “many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him” (John 6:66).
“Do you also want to leave?” (John 6:67). The decision to leave Jesus springs from the lack of faith (John 6:64). In the famous passage of Isaiah we read: “If you do not believe, you will not understand” (Is. 7:9 LXX). That is the reason why the Twelve did not leave. They “have believed and have known that [Jesus is] the Holy One of God "(John 6:68-69). Faith comes before understanding and aids understanding. “If we wanted to know before believing, we would neither know nor be able to believe“ (Saint Augustine).
“Lord, to whom shall we go?” (John 6:68). “There is none like You, Lord (Jer. 10:6). “You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). The Twelve believed and knew, and then decided to remain with Christ. How about you? Faith leads to understanding who Jesus truly is and from this understanding comes the decision to follow Him.