21st Sunday of the Year B
Readings: Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18, Eph. 5:21-32, and Jn. 6:60-69.
“What is the Choice to Make?”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
1. I came across a Girl Nurse in Cameroon where I come from who regretted very badly that she was a Nurse. She told me that in a country like ours where one cannot have what one wants, one is obliged to take what is available to make ends meet. She had before her, the option to write the professional exams to be trained as either a Nurse or a Teacher. She registered both exams, wrote them and the Nursing Exams results were first released. She got registered and started schooling; three weeks into the training, the results of the Entrance Exams for Teachers were released. She passed and could have loved to cross carpets but for financial constraints. She sadly, and reluctantly continued with her training as a Nurse. Upon graduating from the Nursing School, she had realized how unsatisfied she was as a Nurse. She made a wrong decision; she made a wrong choice. As she spoke, she was very angry with her parents, friends and above all with herself; it was too late to adjust. She made the wrong choice.
2. This experience reminded me of a Nigerian Film I watched. In it, a girl had a fiancé. One elderly rich man set in – came to her family and influence every other person in her family to his favor as he expressed the wish to marry her. Probably because of his riches everyone preferred him to the younger poorer boy the girl loved. Before she could process what was happening, the Bride Price was already received; the Traditional Marriage arrangements made; then the Traditional wedding took place, and not before long, she was pregnant prior to Church Wedding arrangements which eventually never took place. She had her child but soon realized that she was not happy. Her fiancé could not imagine the disappointment and kept imagining the love they pledged for each other. After many deliberations, she listed her errors:
- I blundered to allow my family members to decide for me.
- I blundered to accept the man I do not know and love in marriage.
- I blundered to have a child for and with this man.
- My next and immediate blunder is to continue in this unsatisfying marriage, ever in a state of unhappiness in this house. She packed and left for the waiting loving hands of the boy whose heart she soiled when she married this man. What a joy they had coming together to fulfill their planned dream, to ever be there for each other.
3. Two of our readings today had to do with decision making. In the 1st reading, we met Joshua, the leader of the Jewish people who took over the leadership role from Moses and brought the Chosen People to the Promised Land, putting a clear choice before 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.” In the Gospel text, there is a similar situation. Jesus had told the people that he would give them “the Bread of Life.” – His own flesh to eat. The outcome was that “many left him and stopped going with him.” What surprises me is Jesus’ disposition in the choice of the disciples, those that left him and stopped going with him. They took their decision; they have made their choice. Jesus asked the 12, “Do you also want to leave?” This tells us that Jesus is not worried about numbers. He seems okay even if the 12 were to go away. If they chose to stay, it was their decision, nobody forced them to. He does not attract them with sweet promises or wrong teachings. They had the freedom to choose freely, to stay or to leave. It is a “line in the sand” moment – you either believe the words of Jesus and stay, as Peter and the other apostles did, or you don’t and leave as the others did. There is no in-between.
4. Our life is filled with choices. Always, day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year, we must make choices. Some of our choices are mean or minor so to say, such includes:
- Which of my clothes am I to wear today?
- Will I walk or take a Car or Uber to work?
- Will I read, follow the news, or read a book at this hour?
- Will I wear my socks/shoes beginning with right or left foot?
- Will I kick the ball with my left or right foot? Etc.
Some of the decisions we are to take are major. If you joke with them, you will regret it forever. The Girl Nurse regretted very badly because she made a mistake in her choice of becoming a Nurse instead of a Teacher. The 2nd Lady thought fast and corrected her errors. Marriage must be entered freely without force, without influence. She is fortunate that the man meant for her patiently waited for her to take the right decision. Some other important decisions have to do with: Furthering one’s studies – what is one good at? A way of life – Am I to be a consecrated person? Will I be happy as one? Am I to be a priest? If yes, a religious or a diocesan priest? Or Am I to marry? If I am to marry! Who am I to get married to? What are the qualities to look for in the one I want to share my life with? Am I to remain single? Am I fulfilled with this?
5. Then on a more serious note there is the decision whether to follow Christ or not! This is the decision the apostles had to make in today’s gospel text. Peter on their behalf had declared: “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.” Jesus is not asking for part of you – one day a week, one hour a week, or few minutes a day. He wants all of you. Your past, present, and future. He is ready to give all of himself, most especially in the Eucharist, to you. What do you choose? May God guide each one of us in our daily decisions especially to follow him in all we do. To God be the glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.
Fr. Anthony D. Lawir
Pastor (St. Agnes and Our Lady of Snows Parish, Pittsfield and Dexter).