Daily Readings - Sun Aug 25 2024
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
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.