The WORD Today reminds me that I should decide to serve God, regardless if other people serve him or not.

For a lot of people, peer pressure is very powerful. People do not want to be left out. No man is an island, as they say. We want to be part of the group. That's why there are a lot of bandwagons. We want to be with the majority. This may not be harmful in other things, but it can be with our faith.

God wants us to choose him, regardless of what other people say or do.

In the first reading, we see Joshua exhorting the people. Some people were not living the way God wants them to. So he told them to choose if they will serve and follow God or not. He did not force them. He wanted them to choose on their own. But He lived by example. As he was telling them to choose a God to worship, he gave his choice. He did not wait for others to talk. He did not wait for the majority to decide. He chose before they did. Their decision did not affect his. He proclaimed that he and his household will serve the Lord.

In the gospel, we saw a similar account. Other people found it hard to believe and follow Jesus’ teaching. They left him, so Jesus also asked his disciples if they want to leave too. Simon answered no, he knew who Jesus was and he will continue to love and serve Jesus. Same bold decision, unaffected by others, to choose God.

God wants us to decide on our own. God wants us to be sure. He does not want us to choose him just because our friends do, or ignore him because if others. In fact, he does not force us to choose him. In the gospel, Jesus even asked his disciples if they would also want to leave. He did not force them to stay. God wants us to be sure and be firm with our decision. No matter what other people say or do, no matter what other people choose, we should choose to serve God and be firm with it.

Do I always choose God in my decisions and in how i live? Or do I change my answer and decision based on the people I am with, the circumstances, or what is comfortable with me? How can I show God I choose him with my actions and decisions? What is he telling me today?

May we have the resolve to always choose to serve God, no matter what the situation may be.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I do not choose you. Sorry for the times I go with others, instead of with you. Sorry for putting more weight on the approval of others than of yours. Help me live right. Help me choose you always. May I always be firm in faith and love, no matter what. May I always choose you no matter what the situation may be. As I do, may others be inspired and choose you as well. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/08/no-forcing.html

Daily Readings

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 122

Reading I

Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
summoning their elders, their leaders,
their judges, and their officers.
When they stood in ranks before God,
Joshua addressed all the people:
“If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
decide today whom you will serve,
the gods your fathers served beyond the River
or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

But the people answered,
“Far be it from us to forsake the LORD
for the service of other gods.
For it was the LORD, our God,
who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,
out of a state of slavery.
He performed those great miracles before our very eyes
and protected us along our entire journey
and among the peoples through whom we passed.
Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

R. (9a)  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
    the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
    and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
    to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
    and from all their distress he rescues them.
The is close to the brokenhearted;
    and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Many are the troubles of the just one,
    but out of them all the LORD delivers him;
he watches over all his bones;
   not one of them shall be broken.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Reading II

Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32

Brothers and sisters:
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the church,
he himself the savior of the body.
As the church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the church,
because we are members of his body.
   For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
       and be joined to his wife,
   and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

OR:

Brothers and sisters:
Live in love, as Christ loved us.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the church,
because we are members of his body.
   For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
       and be joined to his wife,
   and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

Alleluia

Jn 6:63c, 68c

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Jn 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.”

My Simple Reflection

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Serve the Lord