Homily For The 21st Sunday In Ordinary Time Year B.

Joshua 24:1-2.15-18; Psalm 34:1-2.15-22; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69.

“THE CROSSROAD OF CHOICES!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide 

·      Today the church celebrates the 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. It is often said that one of the distinctive abilities of a human being is the ability to make an informed choice and follow that choice to a logical conclusion. People deliberately refrain from making choices, to such, it is said that even the refusal to make choices is a choice.

·      Today, just like other realities of life, we are confronted with the demand to make choices for ourselves and the matters of our faith and destiny. From the commandments of God, we know that good choices bring rewards while bad choices bring punishments hence, we must choose wisely when we come to the crossroads of choices.

·      In the first reading (Joshua 24:1-2.15-18), Joshua makes a courageous choice to serve the Lord with his household while encouraging the people of Israel to also make a free choice. Joshua makes a free choice out of a deep experience of God especially as he led them through the wilderness to the promised land.

·      Notice that Joshua despite having made a good choice, Joshua does not compel the people of Israel to make the same choice with him. He, however, lays before them various choices while pointing out to them the most beneficial choice. The people chorused and promised that they would serve the Lord and recounted the deeds of the Lord.

·      Friends in Christ, it is about time we too come to declare our eternal allegiance as far as the matters of our faith and eternal destiny are concerned. We must stop hiding under the guise of an inherited faith from our parents and do the needful by owning our faith and letting it grow and bear fruit in our lives and that of those around us.

·      There is no time to seat on the fence and be indecisive about these matters. It is such a serious matter that it should not be left for a later time. Today, we have reached our crossroads of choices, we must decide today, enough of seating on the fence and taking God for granted. Like Joshua, the time to act is now! Choose God and choose life, choose something else, and bear the consequences.

·      In the gospel reading (John 6:60-69), Jesus is not also in the mode to beg or negotiate with anyone concerning matters of our final destiny. He lays bare his teachings to us all and invites those who can follow him and those who cannot do whatever they like.

·      For some of the disciples, it was a hard pill to swallow, it was too much for them to take. The stakes are high who can keep up with it? They questioned, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (Jn. 6:60). Jesus knowing their mind took time to explain the realities of the kingdom to them while leaving the decision to choose to follow him to them.

·      The teachings of the kingdom may be demanding on us, but it is at the same time rewarding. Today we can either choose to be like those disciples who after listening to Jesus withdrew or the others who knew that one with God is the majority and to have found God is to have found everything by replying “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn. 6:68).

·      Today calls for a sober reflection for all of us. To think deeply and see the various obstacles that constantly prevent us from declaring our loyalty and lifelong commitment to God. It is an opportunity to cast those obstacles away and make the right choice today.

·      Dear friends in Christ, declaring for God and choosing to serve him all the days of our life must not remain on the level of lip service. It must be seen in concrete terms from the way we conduct and live our lives, in the way, we relate with one another. In the way, we go about our various assignments and responsibilities whether in the office, at home, or church.

·      St. Paul in the second reading (Ephesians 5:21-32), gives us a classical guide on how to conduct our lives, especially as those who have been confronted with the crossroads of choices and have come to choose God.

·      St. Paul encourages us to be subservient to one another out of the love we have for God. In whatever state of life, we must have decided to embrace, we should live our lives as “God-conscious” people. Hence, if you are married, wives are to be subject to your husband, so also should the husbands be responsible towards their wives and family and love them.

·      The love of Christ for the church becomes our code of conduct in all that we do. We must hence realize that the love spoken of here is a sacrificial one. It was out of love that Christ gave up his life for us who are members of his church and continues to nourish the church until this day.

·      Hence, having been encouraged to choose, nothing should be too much to do for God. It may be difficult but it is possible. And that is why the psalmist encourages us to just try and God will complete the rest by stating that today we must “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8).

·      May the good Lord bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!