Aug. 22, 2021: 21st Sunday B

 Aug. 22, 2021: 21st Sunday B

Can you think of a decision you made in the past that changed you permanently in some way? There are some decisions in your life that are not made simply once in your life but at every moment. An elderly priest was once asked by a younger priest, “Father, when did you decide to become a priest?” The senior priest replied, “This morning, when I woke up.” A similar logic follows for those who are married. A couple’s decision to form a nuptial covenant at the altar is not a one time decision. A couple who was celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary gave this advice about how to stay married, "To love your spouse is a decision to love when you don't feel love. Don't put pressure on your spouse that only God can bear. Don’t make tomorrow’s decisions based on today’s emotions. Progress starts when you see that you're the problem. Remember that if you leave your marriage, you take all your unresolved problems to your next relationship. And don't make your kids the center of your family; your kids eventually leave, and child-centered parenting produces self-centered kids." 

Near the end of his life, Joshua brought the Israelites to the ancient city of Shechem. This city was the very spot where a few hundred years earlier, Abraham received the first promise from God. It was the spot where God had warned them to obey or be chastened. Joshua knew that the faith of the Israelites was not strong; their tendency was to drift back to the paganism they practiced in Egypt. So Joshua challenged the people of Israel to consciously commit to the covenant Moses established with their fathers at Mount Sinai. Joshua told them that if they did not want to commit, then they should walk away and worship other gods, “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.” There is no middle ground in this call; one will be a hypocrite in saying that they’re going to worship the Lord, but in actuality worship other gods. 

Joshua is challenging us, too. If we profess Christ and the Catholic faith with our lips, is our action consistent with what we say? If we reflect on the time, money, and resources we spend in a day, are we serving the Lord or are we serving other gods? When Jesus told the Jews, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” We are told that the crowds of disciples dispersed, and Jesus is left with only the Twelve apostles. Like Joshua, Jesus put the decision to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” When we Catholics come up to receive the Holy Communion, the priest holds the Sacred Host and  says, “Body of Christ.” That very moment is a time of decision and a time of commitment. In a sense, Jesus is asking us, ‘Choose whom you will serve. Are you still with me, or do you want to look for a different savior?’ 

When we say ‘Amen,’ we are saying, ‘So be it,’ or “I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.” To receive Holy Communion is a simple action. However, to allow the Body and Blood of Christ to transform us from within and to allow Jesus to lead our life 24/7 involves dying to self and choosing Christ everyday. Just as living out any vocation like priesthood and marriage is an everyday commitment, living out  our Christian discipleship is a daily commitment. When we approach the altar to receive the Body of Christ, we profess and believe that the strength that Jesus will give us in the Bread of Life will help us love and serve our neighbor. We all have the opportunity every day to see Jesus in those whom we meet, including the poor, our co-workers, and our family. To remain in Christ every day is to believe, to profess, to live out, and to become the Eucharist we receive.   -Fr. Yi