WE MUST CHOOSE

XXI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Jn 6:60-69

In life, we are continuously faced with choices, and the happiness of our future depends on the choices we make. In the book of Deuteronomy, we find Moses putting it bluntly: 

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.” (Dt 30:15)

The outcome of our lives will depend on the choices we make now. Sure, everybody wants life and prosperity and everybody struggles and works hard in order to achieve it. But which means are we going to use or what paths are we going to follow in order to achieve happiness and peace? If we choose the wrong path, we may end up very far away from the desired goal, and instead of life, we will face death. Moses indicated the right path that will lead us to life: 

“by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live” (Dt 30:16)

In his old age, Joshua gathered all the tribes at Shechem and called for the renewal of the Covenant, while presenting the people with a choice: Are you ready to serve the Lord, or do you prefer to serve someone else? As a leader, he puts forward his own choice as an example: “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Jos 24:15). But the people have to make their own free choice; they cannot be forced to serve the Lord, and they chose: “We too will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” (Jos 24:18).

The renewal of the covenant implies a free choice and demands a commitment to faithfulness. However, time and again, people went back on their word, betraying the covenant and putting themselves at the service of other gods. The theme of disobedience, betrayal and revolt is a recurrent theme throughout the Scriptures. In spite of that, God goes on with his offering of a covenant of love, which will lead us to life, happiness and peace, and he will not change the terms of the covenant to please us or to satisfy our desires.

The Eucharist is a celebration and a renewal of the new covenant made in Jesus Christ, a covenant sealed and ratified in his blood. When the disciples heard Jesus proposing himself as the bread of life and inviting them to sit at his table to eat his flesh and drink his blood, they were horrified and abandoned Jesus saying: This is intolerable language. Although the reaction must have been painful to Jesus, he did not change his message in order to get them back. Instead, he challenged the remaining ones saying: “Do you also wish to go away?” (Jn 6:67).

Jesus’ message is not an easy message to hear and to understand. Mainly the message about the Eucharist. That’s why most of the Churches that left the Catholic Church reject the teaching of the Eucharist, or interpret it in a demeaning way, depriving it of its deep meaning. Speaking in name of the remaining disciples, Peter answered back: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68).

It is only in Jesus Christ that we can find life and salvation, and we cannot accept Jesus half-way. His word is clear and straightforward: we must sit at his table and be fed with the food that he gives us: his body and blood. With Peter we say: To whom can we go? Only you, Lord, have words of eternal life.