Daily Readings - Sun Aug 25 2024
Joshua
1Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God.2And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.15And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."16Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods,17for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.18And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
Ephesians
32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,30because we are members of his body.31"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
John
53So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"61But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.64But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)65And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."66After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.67So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,69and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of commitment, love, and the transformative power of faith. In the first reading from Joshua, we hear the prophet calling the people of Israel to make a choice: to serve the Lord or to turn back to the idols of their ancestors. Joshua reminds them of God’s faithfulness, recounting how He led them out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. The people, moved by this reminder, affirm their commitment to serve the Lord, declaring that they will follow Him and no other. This passage emphasizes the importance of remembering God’s actions in our lives and allowing that memory to shape our decisions.
The second reading from Ephesians shifts our focus to the relationships within the Christian community, particularly within marriage. Paul calls husbands and wives to live out their commitment to one another in a way that reflects the love of Christ for the Church. He emphasizes mutual submission, respect, and self-giving love, drawing a deep connection between the sacrament of marriage and the union of Christ with His bride, the Church. This reading reminds us that our relationships are not just about personal happiness but about living out the Gospel in concrete ways.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the Eucharist as the source of eternal life, saying, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” Many of His disciples find this teaching too difficult to accept, and they abandon Him. Yet, Peter and the other apostles remain, confessing their faith in Jesus as the Son of God. This passage invites us to reflect on the mystery of the Eucharist and the commitment it requires. Just as Joshua called the people to choose the Lord, and just as Paul called husbands and wives to live out their commitment in love, Jesus calls us to embrace the gift of His Body and Blood as the source of our spiritual life.
These readings remind us that faith is not a passive belief but an active commitment to God and to one another. Like Joshua’s people, we are called to remember God’s faithfulness and to make choices that align with our commitment to Him. Like the Ephesians, we are called to live out our relationships in love and mutual respect. And like Peter, we are called to stay with Jesus, even when the journey is difficult, trusting that He has the words of eternal life. Let us ask for the grace to live out our faith with courage, love, and fidelity, knowing that it is in Him that we find true life.