Homily for Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 22nd August, 2021.

 Homily for Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 22nd August, 2021.

Readings: Jos.24:1-2.15-17.18; Ps. 34; Eph. 5:22-32; John 6:60-69

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

TO WHOM SHALL WE GO TO, WHEN THE ARTICLS OF OUR FAITH SEEMS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND?

Everyday of our lives we make choices that we think are good for us. But sometimes some choices are very difficult to make. However, the root of any choice we make in life comes from the fundamental option we have made as a human person. Our fundamental option is the option we make for or against God, to love or to be selfish, to be good or evil, to be holy or sinful. This option has a way of influencing any other choices we make in life. 

Today, in our Gospel passage, we heard how people reacted when faced with hard choice on account of the teachings of Jesus. For as he ends the discourse on the Bread of Life he said to them: whoever, eats my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. So, hearing this hard teaching, many of his disciples decided to walk away. Then Jesus asked the twelve: will you also go away? Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God. 

Following these responses, we can see how important it is for us to make the fundamental option for God if we really want to follow him. As we heard that most of the followers of Jesus left him behind after he spoke of himself as the Bread of Life. Thus, many of them refused to believe in such hard truth and teaching. This may be as a result of their ignorance, impatience and inability to accommodate difficult moment and realities that is beyond them. This same choice is what Joshua placed before the people of Israel in our first reading today and St. Paul in our second reading commanded us to be subjected to one another in reference to Christ in choices that we have to make especially husband and wife.

Dear friends, everyday we are called to make this fundamental option between God the Creator and the creatures who have made themselves gods. For this is the reality of our faith in Christ, so, the Christian faith which we have is not something we should take for granted, as we may often find it difficult to remain faithful especially when we are confronted with arguments and realities that are opposite and in contrast to our faith. Yet, at the same time, we are called to continue to be faithful and dedicate ourselves completely in obedience to the teachings of Christ. We are called today to develop a divine way of understanding the mysteries of God, but not rejecting them because we do not understand them.

Thus, when the articles of our faith or our life situations seems difficult, we are called to come to Jesus and remain faithful in him. We are called to believe in him who came from above and bears testimony of heavenly things. We are called like the apostles to say Lord to whom shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life. We are to bear witness of these things through the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that our choice for God is a choice for love, and a life of love is a sacrificial life neither easy nor comfortable. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, our hope is all in you, when in difficult moment of decision making regarding our faith in you, give us the grace and courage like St. Peter to bear authentic witness to the faith we have found in Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Happy Sunday and remain blessed.