Our Big Act of Faith

For John, BLUF:  Some weekends the Scripture Readings at Mass are OK, and somoe weeks they hit it out of the park.  This was a hit it out of the park weekend.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here is the Gospel Reading (John 6:60-69):

Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said
"This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, "Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending
to where he was before?
It is the spirit that gives life,
while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe."
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him.
And he said,
"For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father."

As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"
Simon Peter 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."

This is my favorite Bible passage.  In the reading the previous week Jesus lays out that His Body and Blood are food and drink for the believer.  Many disciples found this to be hard to accept.  They turned away from Jesus.  Then Jesus turns to the Apostles and asks them where they stand.  Saint Peter answers for the Twelve, and as if thinking, "I don't have a clue" he says

"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."

In my mind Saiant Peter is saying:

Boss I don't have a clue, but if you say so.

Saint Peter is speaking out of faith.  The same faith we show when we go forward to receive Communion.

But, it wasn't the only good reading.  There is the first reading, from the Book of Joshua.  Those of us of a certain age might remember the spiritual, Joshua Fought the Battle of Jerico.♠  In this reading the Prophet Joshua makes clear that he stands with God.

"As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

And, the Second Readding, from Saiant Paul's Letter to the Ephesians (Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32) is good advice for Christians.  The reason there are two versions is becsuse this scripture calls for wives to be "be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord".  Some are offended by this wording.  Apparently, folks are not as offended by "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her," which calls for husbands to be willing to die for their wives.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Joshua is the person in the Bible with no parents:  "Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD" (Joshua 29:1).