Reflection

IT IS TIME TO MAKE A GREAT DECISION 

                                                                                                                                 IBIYEMI VICTOR

When we read the gospels, there are so many little touches included by the evangelists that reveal the humanity of Jesus.  For about three Sundays ago, we have been reflecting on Jesus as the Bread of Life. He gave himself expressing his maximum compassion for us. This Sunday teaches us to respond to that great compassion by making an ultimate decision to follow Jesus.  In the first reading, Joshua sets before the people of Israel the choice of the God to serve. He reminded them of the pagan gods of their ancestors and the defilement of those gods. The people of Israel unanimously affirm their intention not to desert the Lord their God thereby proclaiming Yahweh as their God. They reached this conclusion based on their re-enacted of the goodness of God; “we have no intention of deserting the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors out of the Land of Egypt, the house of Slavery… (Joshua 24: 17). In the gospel reading likewise, after the concise exposition of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the people could not understand the Eucharistic mystery therefore the left the Lord, however, the Apostles made their own decision relying on the goodness of the Lord: “too whom shall we go, you have the message of eternal life”. (John 6:68).  

Brethren, the palmist again says: “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 33:8). Today, let us recount the goodness of God in our lives and make the decision of whom to follow for the rest of our life. Only Jesus has the message of eternal life. As he has generously nourished us with the food of eternal life let us generously accept him as our Lord and God, let us follow him closely by keeping his laws and commandments, for by this we will become partakers in the heavenly banquet on the last day.