21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)
Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21, 22-23
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
1st Reading: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b
Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel in Shechem, and assembled the elders, leaders, judges and secretaries. And together they presented themselves before God. Addressing the people, Joshua said to them: “Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands me to say to you: Your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River — Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor — serving other gods.
But if you do not want to serve Y+6ahweh, make known this very day whom you shall serve — whether they be the gods your ancestors served in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites who formerly occupied the land in which you now live. As for me, I and my household will serve Yahweh.” The people answered: “May God not permit that we ever abandon Yahweh to serve other gods! For it was he who brought us and our ancestors out of Egypt, the house of slavery. It was he who did those great wonders that we have seen; he protected us on the way and through all the land where we passed,
Driving away before us all the nations especially the Amorites who lived in this land. So we shall also serve Yahweh: he is our God!”
2nd Reading: Eph 5:21-32 (or Eph 5:2a, 25-32)
Let all kinds of submission to one another, become obedience to Christ. So wives, to their husbands, as to the Lord.
The husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of whom he is also the Savior. And as the church submits to Christ, so let a wife submit in everything to her husband.
As for you, husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for her. He washed her, and made her holy, by baptism in the word. As he wanted a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless, he, himself, had to prepare, and present her to himself.
In the same way, husbands should love their wives, as they love their own bodies. He, who loves his wife, loves himself. And no one has ever hated his body; he feeds and takes care of it. That is just what Christ does for the Church, because we are members of his body.
Scripture says: Because of this, a man shall leave his father and mother, to be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church.
Gospel: Jn 6:60-69
After hearing this, many of Jesus’ followers said, “This language is very hard! Who can accept it?” Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this, and so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, not the flesh. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe.”
From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, “As I have told you, no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Lectio Divina
Read: Joshua declares his loyalty and commitment to Yahweh and Israelites follow suit. The relationship between husband and wife must be similar in dynamics to the one between Christ and the Church, marked with loyalty and commitment. Several disciples of Jesus could not digest the teachings of Christ and hence, left him.
Reflect: The modern Church suffers from the cafeteria approach of some of its members – picking and choosing what suits their palate and discarding the rest when it comes to Church teachings or scriptural injunctions. One such example is today’s second reading on the relationship between husband and wife: The subordination that Paul seems to imply seems difficult and unacceptable in the modern often skewed understanding of equality. There are parishes that altogether discard this reading whenever it comes around. But if all scripture is inspired by God, there must be some wisdom in that passage, and the key to interpreting it is Christ – what Paul means is a relationship like that of Christ and his Church, one that is ensouled by love, tenderness, and commitment. Who wouldn’t want a similar relationship?
Pray: Make a prayer for married couples for their relationship to be defined by loving commitment and tender care.
Act: If you are married, spend some quality time with your spouse today. If you are not, reach out and appreciate a couple who models Christ-Church relationships.
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
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