Aug 23rd , ‘15 Sunday Homily :
Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI
(Josh 24: 1-2, 15-17, 18; Eph
5: 21-32; Jn 6: 60-69)
For Readings
The theme today’s readings present is that Christian life
is a series of daily choices for God or against God, as we choose to live out
or reject the truths He revealed through His prophets and His Son Jesus. In the
first reading, Joshua challenges the Israelites to decide whom they will serve,
the pagan gods or Yahweh, the God of Israelites. Paul in the second reading
challenges us to build Christian marriages on mutual respect and love. He wants
us to make the right choice in life. Jesus in today’s
gospel challenges us to make our choice of accepting Him as the true Bread from
heaven or to join those who had lost their faith in him and left him.
Many of the disciples left the company of Jesus
when He spoke of Heavenly Bread saying, “This teaching is difficult”. Jesus was
not annoyed with that. Instead, He asked the twelve apostles whether they too
wanted to go and gave them the option of leaving him or staying with him. The
reply given by Peter, draws special significance. He says, “Lord, who shall we go to. You have, the message of eternal life.”
This shows that unless we know and believe in Jesus, we can’t remain
with Him. Here Peter is accepting the divinity of Jesus and acknowledging the
life giving nature of Jesus’ words, the good News representing all genuine
believers. He acknowledges and accepts Jesus above all things and all pleasures
of this world, while many of other disciples failed and left Him.
It repeats throughout history. Many of you might
have read the story of St. Thomas More and King Henry the VIII. Thomas More was elected to Parliament at the age of 26. In 1529, he was made the Lord Chancellor of England. None of
these honors and responsibilities lessened his commitment to God, and
dedication to the Church. Even as Chancellor, he continued to serve Mass in his
parish church and to sing in the choir.
When Henry VIII, having had no male heirs,
sought an annulment from his marriage in order to marry another woman. The Pope
refused it. Henry was furious. He had a subservient parliament pass a new
succession law and proclaim him the head of the Church of England. Thomas More,
at once protested and resigned his Chancellorship. For his refusal to take the
required new oath, accepting the King, as head of the Church of England, Henry
VIII imprisoned Thomas More and beheaded on July 5th 1535. He became a great martyr. He put truth, justice and faithfulness to God’s law and His
Church far higher than any worldly honor, popularity or monetary reward. He
became capable of this because daily he was fed with Lord’s Body and blood. This
is the strength of the faith in Jesus, and power of the Holy Eucharist.
When
we practice our belief, our love and unity in Jesus our life will become a
mighty force to do wonderful things in this world, and a joyful journey towards
eternal life. Even the hardship of
crisis and difficult moments in our daily life may become an opportunity to get
rooted in God. We should resolve to take a stand for Jesus, because, our life has a greater
meaning and a greater goal. The
heavenly Bread will give us the courage of our Christian convictions to accept
the Church’s teachings and to face the hardships, ridicule, criticisms and even
social isolation for our adherence to gospel message in our lives. St.Chavara led Catholic church in Kerala in
the midst of critical situations with greater courage and faith as he was a man
of the Eucharist. He found solutions for the problems by sitting before the
Blessed Sacrament in prayer. When we are fed with bread of eternal life, even
in the midst of hardships and sufferings, our joy and peace in Jesus will
remain with us and will make our life more and more pleasant and grace-filled. Let
us be the people of the Eucharist and become more and more Spirit filled. Let
us lead a life of ‘rejoicing in the Lord.” God bless you.
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