Cycle B - Year II:  

26 August 2018: Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time  

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Second Reading:   Ephesians 5:21-32

Gospel:Please Read  John 6:60-69

Are we Catholics by choice?

Are we Catholics by choice? Perhaps this is a timely question during these most challenging times in our national journey. It challenges us to witness and live our Catholic faith.

In one of his homilies, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle has expressed disappointment that many Christian Filipinos fail to draw inspiration from the Good News at Holy Mass. According to him, many parishioners often grab the opportunity to nap when the Gospel is being proclaimed at Mass. And he asks, "Why is it easier to spread gossip than the Good News?"

Our Lord Jesus was in the same predicament when He reveals to His listeners  and disciples  that He is the Bread of Life. This Sunday's Gospel proclamation is the conclusion of our Lord's discourse on the Eucharist. Jesus confronts His followers to make a choice. Either they believe Him and ask for this bread, or reject His claim on Himself as the Bread of Life. So it is decision time for His followers.

The religious leaders and many of Jesus' followers were scandalized by His claim. They find His teaching difficult to swallow, and so they no longer want to follow Him. They cease to be disciples and deserted Him.

So Jesus asks the twelve Apostles: "Do you also want to leave?"

It was Simon Peter who answered Him: "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the

words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that You are the Holy One of God." (Jn 6:68-69)

Now Peter's profession of faith and loyalty was based on a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the gift of faith Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the Holy One of God, and he believed in His words.

And so faith is our response to God's revelation. It is the key to seeing God work in our lives. But we have to make the difficult choice of accepting our Lord Jesus, or rejecting Him. We cannot be content with merely drifting through life.

Real faith seeks understanding. That is why God gives us the help of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of our mind to understand His truth and revelation.

In practical life, so many things are happening in our lives and in our world today that shock us. But the Lord invites us to receive Him as the Bread of Life. We can refuse Him, or like Peter we respond to our Lord's invitation, "Lord, to whom shall we go?"

In sum, our life is made up of many choices, big and small, human, spiritual and religious choices. But our choices must come from within us. And so we need our Lord Jesus Christ with us, if we are to follow Him in our earthly journey.

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, You have the words of everlasting life. Help me to cast aside doubts and fear and to embrace Your word with trust and joy. I surrender my life to You. May there be nothing which keeps me from You and Your love. Amen.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank You for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!