Daily Readings - Sun Aug 26 2018
Joshua
1And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.2And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.16And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;17For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:18And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.
Ephesians
32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
John
53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of commitment, love, and faith. The first reading from Joshua presents a pivotal moment where the Israelites are called to choose between serving the Lord or other gods. Joshua's challenge underscores the importance of deliberate commitment to God, recognizing His faithfulness and deliverance. The people affirm their loyalty, highlighting the necessity of making conscious choices in our spiritual journey.
The second reading from Ephesians deepens this theme by emphasizing mutual submission and selfless love within relationships. It calls us to imitate God's kindness and forgiveness, particularly within the context of marriage, where husbands and wives are to love and respect each other as Christ loves the Church. This passage reminds us that our relationships should mirror the unity and love of Christ, fostering an environment of support and care.
The Gospel from John confronts us with a challenging teaching about the necessity of partaking in Christ's flesh and blood for eternal life. Many disciples find this teaching difficult, leading some to leave. Yet, Peter's response exemplifies unwavering faith, recognizing Jesus as the source of eternal life. This passage invites us to reflect on our commitment to Christ, even when His teachings are hard to accept.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to make intentional choices to follow God, to nurture our relationships with selfless love, and to remain committed to Christ despite challenges. They remind us that our faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived commitment that transforms how we love and serve others. Let us embrace these teachings, choosing each day to follow Christ, to love as He loves, and to trust in His providence, even when the path is uncertain.