August 23, 2009 21st Ordinary Sunday of the Year Josh. 24:1-2, 15-17; Eph. 5:21-32; Jn. 6:60-69 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings:http://www.usccb.org/nab/082309.shtml   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________     Making the decision for God is not easy at all. Alternatives are often so much more appealing. In some situations we are attracted to success; we want to be like others. At other times, we prefer the status quo. We have always done it that way; if it worked, why ruffle the waters? And then there is the call to change our understanding of God, a call that might demand a significant change in our thinking and in the way we live and interact with others.   Many of Jesus’ disciples return “to their former life,” and he turns to the Twelve and asks if they want to leave. This is acutely symbolic of the choices facing people on their religious journey. Even the most profound revelation of Jesus, that he is God’s wisdom for humanity and that all who eat his flesh and drink his blood will have fullness of life, does not take away the mystery of human freedom. God’s gifts are extraordinary and inviting, but when faced with them, people can return to their former life.   Faith is deepened in situations where it is difficult to rely anymore on our reason or abilities. Yet, what is amazing about these five words, “to whom shall we go?” is that the disciples had purposely placed themselves in positions where self-reliance was no longer possible. Most of us might find ourselves in that position, but how many of us try and place ourselves in that position?   Christ’s followers ranged from the well-to-do to common labourers. They had careers, they had lives, families and loved ones that were put on hold as they followed Jesus for three years, even before they realized he was the Christ!   So many of us do all that we can to not place ourselves in positions of vulnerability, but here we have the twelve who purposely sought out a complete dependency upon Jesus! And, from that dependency, comes the ultimate statement of faith. Not just the words, “to whom shall we go?” It is the steps that one takes to be totally dependent, reliant, and available to Jesus our loving Lord.   What should disarm us about these statements of faith are not just the words but also the actions that back them up. Peter and the twelve had other lives before Jesus. They, just like us, had other choices but ultimately they placed themselves in positions where Jesus was their only remaining choice: “Lord, to whom shall we go?”     <<   Previous: Assumption of Our Lady  |   Next: 22nd Sunday of the Year >>     Go Back to SERMONS (Year B)