“Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6: 69).
Today’s readings are the last part of the long discourse we heard for the past five weeks. After explaining about himself as the true food for humanity, Jesus invites us to make a choice of whom we would like to worship. We have heard him say who He is and what He is proposing for us. There is no more negotiation. Our options are clear – do we want Him in our life as He proposed, or we can walk out.
In the First Reading, Joshua presents the people of Israel in a similar situation of making a definitive choice. After the death of Moses, Joshua was charged with leading the people of Israel. Joshua proved himself a great leader and commander. After settling down in the Promised Land, he convened an assembly of all the people at Shechem. He wanted them to take an oath of allegiance to Yahweh.
Why Shechem? When Abraham came to the Promised Land from Babylon, it was at Shechem that God appeared to him and made a promise of giving the land where he was standing to his descendants (Gen 12:7). On Jacob’s return, after serving Laban for several years, he ordered his wives to bury all the idols they brought from their father’s house at Shechem. At this place he made them to promise to serve Yahweh as their only God.
Why did Joshua make the Israelites take an oath to serve Yahweh alone even though they had witnessed the mighty works of their God when they came out of Egypt? At this point in time, the people of Israel were in a new social system. They had become a free people with their own land and country. They were free to choose the way they wanted to live. And, as such they were attracted by the many gods the local people worshiped in Canaan. Moreover, they were also influenced by the gods of Babylon and other oriental nations with their elaborate rituals.
Joshua sets a great example before his people. He chose Yahweh and only Yahweh as his God. So, he said, “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Jos 24:15). People followed his example and took an oath to follow Yahweh – “Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God” (Jos. 24:18).
Every Eucharist we attend presents us the same choice. Do we want to be nourished by the true God for our life here on earth and for the life to come for eternity?
Jesus does not make it easy. He wants us to know the cost of our choice. Most of Jesus’ listeners called it a hard teaching. Only a few accepted His offer. He is asking us the same question; “Do you also wish to go away?” (Jn. 6:68). Are we able to give the same answer as Peter and company? “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn 6:69).
–Fr. Ranjan D’Sa OCD