Christ knocks at the door – will you be there to answer
This weekend the question presented to us is whether we will continue to make our decision for Christ or not. Again, this Sunday the Gospel reading is from the Sixth Chapter of John – for the fifth consecutive Sunday we read from the same chapter – it is an important chapter – basic to our belief in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. As we finish these readings from John 6 on Sundays – it is a good time to read the whole chapter together – as a sort of review of what we have seen.
This week – our liturgy connects a reading from the Old Testament Book of Joshua – with our Gospel from John 6. Joshua, now the leader of the Hebrew people after the death of Moses – is met with grumbling and complaining from the people – and he demands a decision from them – “If it does not please you to server the Lord, decided today whom you will serve – as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
In this closing reading from John 6 – Jesus is met with grumbling also – and the Gospel writer tells us that many refused to continue walking with Jesus – so Jesus asks the Twelve – “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answers for the group – “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.”
So, this message presents us with a similar challenge – what is your decision? Actually, it is a continuing question – a daily question – a decision we must make often in life – a decision for Christ. Have you – will you continue to make your faith your own – have you taken the time today to make a personal choice about faith.
I have noticed that often when a decision must be made – it is often a rejection – many young people solve the question of a decision about Jesus and faith by simply rejecting the whole business. My worry is that this decision is made without sufficient knowledge of all that Jesus and the Church teaches – of all that is ours because of our faith – of all that we can become – that we must become as people of faith. This, of course, is not simply a way out for young people – it happens to others at many different stages in life.
I believe that our task as a parish – to do something – so that all of us understand better our faith, our beliefs as Catholics, our way of life as follows of Jesus – and that we do better at helping others, especially our young people in understanding more about this challenge of making a decision for Christ.
The first step is that all of us must make our faith our own. This demands finding meaning through a personal experience of the Lord – faith – is not the acceptance of a lot of beliefs or rules or such – but rather – for a Christian – faith is a belief in and a commitment to the person of Jesus. We must get to know Jesus better – and make all that Jesus is more alive and real in our lives. Then our decision for Christ will truly make a radical change in our lives.
One way for this to begin – our daily reading of Sacred Scripture – a family reading of Sacred Scripture – that can well begin with John 6.
One brief note – the other reading this Sunday – from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians – contains that sentence that gets far too much attention these days – he writes, “Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.” I will probably not talk about this on Sunday – I’m not certain what I would say – and since I am a man and a bachelor, many wives will certainly believe I don’t know anything about it, anyway – and that may be true. I have heard many explanations of Paul’s meaning – I must admit I don’t know – it was a different age – he may be trying to associate marriage – with his image of Jesus as the Bridegroom of the bride that is the Church – and the Church should be subordinate to Jesus – I don’t know – but he does add later on, “Husbands, love your wives.” I will leave the rest up to you.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, my Father – hear me as I pray today – strengthen my faith, Lord – as I make this decision today for Jesus – to listen to Jesus – to walk with Jesus – to try to live my life as Jesus lived. May my life reflect the life of my Savior – therefore, I again – this day – choose Jesus over all other things. This is my prayer. Amen.
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.
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