Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
As is usually the case, we find plenty of meat for reflection in this Sunday’s readings. St. Paul’s discussion of marriage in the second reading – especially his teaching that wives should be subordinate to their husbands – can always be counted on to generate lively discussion, shall we say. I have preached on this reading before. The challenge is to explain as faithfully as possible what Paul means by this while remaining sensitive to how this might be understood in contemporary society.
However, given where we are as a Church in this country in recent weeks, it seems best to focus on the first reading and Gospel for this Sunday. In both readings, people are challenged to reaffirm their faith in the Lord. In the first reading, the Lord has led Israel into the Land of Promise through Joshua. Now, Joshua asks the people to renew their commitment to the Lord. In the Gospel, the challenge is different. Earlier in John 6, people were ready to acclaim Jesus as king after he fed a large crowd with a few loaves and fishes. Now, once Jesus begins to explain the meaning of that miracle – and that he himself is the true Bread of Life – people find this “a bridge too far”. Even many of Jesus’ own followers no longer walk with him. Jesus asks the Twelve if they, too, will leave him. Continue reading “To Whom Shall We Go?”
