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21ST & 22ND AUGUST 2021 - THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B
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REFLECTION
This week we are presented with choices. Joshua asks the Israelites to choose whether they will serve the Lord or “other gods”. In John’s Gospel Jesus asks his disciples to choose also to leave or stay with him. Jesus’ followers were leaving because it was intolerable to them that he should claim equality with God. Peter, however, responded for the twelve with a statement of faith, saying “You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God”. The expression “Holy One” was normally only applied to God himself.
What does this mean for us, as today’s disciples of Jesus? As members of Christ’s Body, we are, with him, united also to the Father. We are his hands, feet, mouth, ears, his eyes. With Jesus, we are priests, prophets and kings. It is easy to consider ourselves Christians because we attend Mass, say our prayers and put money on the plate on Sundays. But it’s easier to coast along, relying on habit and routine, than to see faith as conscious choice carrying radical consequences that demand our active daily faith-living.
How do we respond? How can we serve the Lord? How will we remain with Jesus? How will we take up Christ’s mission deliberately? Have we been gifted by God? Do we claim those gifts for ourselves or are we prepared to use them in service as Christ’s Body to those who need us to be Christ for them?
What opportunities to bring God to earth in our actions are already before us, waiting for our “yes”?
