Twenty
First Sunday in Ordinary Time
JOS 24:1-2A, 15-17, 18B/ PS 34/ EPH 5:21-32/ JN 6:60-69
Last
Friday, I experienced an unforgettable trip of my life – the boat ride from
Sante Fe Wharf in Bantayan Island to Hanaya Wharf in mainland Cebu. It was unforgettable
because it was my first time to cross the sea amidst rough and tossing waves. I
hardly moved from where I was seated because I was strongly holding the bench
in front of me during the entire trip. My “Hail Marys” in every decade of the
Rosary exceeded beyond 10 because of fear. Though others especially those used
to “bumpy” travels were busy with their cellphones and chitchats, deep inside
of me I was troubled and can surely reecho the words of Peter in our Gospel
today: “Master, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life!”
We
finally end today our reading on the 6th chapter of John which is
about the Bread of Life discourse of Jesus. This Sunday we hear the response of
the people. “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their
former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” Many cannot accept his
message that he is the bread coming from heaven; that he is sent by the Father.
Jesus turned to the Twelve and also asked them. And it was Peter who said, “Master,
to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” They will not leave
Jesus because He brings eternal life. What then is the meaning of eternal life?
Our
Catechism has this to say: “Living forever with God in the happiness of heaven,
entered after death by the souls of those who die in the grace and friendship
of God (988, 1020). In preaching the kingdom of heaven, Jesus called all people
to eternal life, which is anticipated in the grace of union with Christ.” Those
who died in friendship with God gains eternal life. Yet, eternal life is also
anticipated even before death. And this happens when we are in union with
Christ. Eternal life is achieved when our lives are unified with Christ in
grace.
And
this is the meaning of the story of Joshua in our first reading today. His
household and the rest of the community decided to continue serving the Lord because
their lives have been united to God. “For it was the LORD, our God, who brought
us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He
performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our
entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed.” They will not
leave the Lord because their story as a nation has told them that the Lord has
been with them despite the slavery and enemies surrounding them. They will
continue serving the Lord because they have been united with God; they have
received eternal life from Him.
Our
second reading today gives us a beautiful imagery on eternal life. It is like
the union between the husband and wife. Husband and wife leave their families
and become one flesh. This is eternal life – when our lives are united and
become inseparable from God. Thus, we are challenged this Sunday to also
anticipate eternal life here on earth by being strongly united to Christ
like the union between a husband and wife. There has to be no
compartmentalization in our lives. Compartmentalization happens when our words
no longer match our real lives. It happens when we continue calling on God as
the only source of eternal life yet our actions do not promote life at all. It
happens when we keep on receiving the Bread of Life at Mass every Sunday yet the
rest of the week are “sin” days.
While
praying the Rosary during the stormy trip, my mind was also focused on possible
circumstances like the boat capsizing and myself drowning. I was not focused
with my prayer. My heart was divided and not fully united to God.
But eternal
life is union with God. Such union is so deep like that of the husband and wife
that after marriage they are no longer two but one body. Eternal life is living
the life of God day in and day out. Eternal life is focusing to God despite the
odds. Therefore, let our lives not be scattered by sin but joined together by
grace and so gain eternal life. Amen.
Photo taken from eyeofprophecy.com
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