Point of Decision

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2009
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

With the passage of mid August, the time of year is shifting. School days are approaching and it's time for new things: New shoes, pencils, pens and paper. This is always an exciting time of year for parents and teachers and yes, even for some students. There comes a time, when even students know, It's Time...Time to move on to another year.

We find similar times in our readings today. In our first reading, we find ourselves in the last chapter of Joshua. You will remember that Joshua was the leader of the Jewish people after Moses died. And we see in this last chapter, Joshua's final address to his people. They've finally arrived in the Promised land and now it is time for them to renew their faith, renew their covenant with the Lord. Joshua proclaims to the people, "Decide today whom you will serve, the gods of the people around us, or the Lord God." Joshua declares to the people, "as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." A point of decision, indeed.

We see a similar scene in the Gospel. Having followed the Bread of Life Discourse for the past 4 weeks, we finally arrive to the last section. As we see, the people are still murmuring! They've been murmuring throughout the chapter and the end is no different. "This is a hard teaching", they say. But notice carefully our Lord. He stands firm, he does not give in to the mumuring crowd. And in one of the saddest lines of all the Scripture, we read..."As a result of this (teaching), many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him." That is quite a line and it's interesting to note it's citation, John 6,66. Isn't that interesting??

Then our Lord, turns to the 12. "Do you also want to leave?" What a demonstration of freedom. It's a point of decision for them too. Thank God for Simon Peter. He says, so honestly, "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."

My friends, where are we in our walk with the Lord, in our faith in Jesus Christ. Certainly, we are all walking with Him, we're in church today. But now is the time, this is the time of year, a wonderful time to believe again in Jesus and to accept again His saving power. To renounce evil, to embrace life! We do this for yourselves, for our households, for others. For without this choice, our lives lack so much power and life.

One of the hot items right now in stores and in our homes are HDTVs. Really, a great thing. Well, did you ever wonder how good it would be to have a high defined life? An HD Life of faith, hope, love, centered on God and family!!!

Now's the time, for us to go for it. To come to believe and to be convinced in the love of Jesus our Lord. Let us serve him faithful for he has served us so...

Such faithfulness demands, Daily Prayer, prayer with family, monthly confession, and daily decision for Jesus.

So let us reach our decision and in so doing, we'll be living in high definition, living in love, in the Lord.