Sunday Reflections
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 25, 2024
Reflection by:
the late +Bishop Brian Leo Hennessey, CR
Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?”
Simon Peter answered, “Lord to whom shall we go?” ~ John 6: 67-68
When we think about it our daily lives are filled with choices, what to wear in the morning, what to have for lunch or dinner, whether to hop the bus or take the ferry to Dockyard, what channel to watch on TV or whether to watch TV at all. Some choices may even have a long term effect. How many of us, for example, sit in the same place at Mass? Somewhere along the line and for some reason or other we chose this particular pew. These are easy choices, decisions taken with little or no thought which will have little real impact on our lives. But there are some that do.
When many of his disciples could not accept his teaching that he would give them his flesh to eat and blood to drink, and walked away, Jesus asked the twelve if they would also leave or would they choose him. Peter’s response was quick: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Peter’s decision was one that would change the whole flow of his life. Our decision to follow Christ and practice our faith will also not always be easy. In times of uncertainty, when our faith is tested, as it is sure to be in a changing Church, we must still trust in Christ. When he seems to ask us, “Will you too go” we must reply, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
There are decisions in our lives that should be made only after prayer, only after turning to Jesus for enlightenment and help, the daily moral decisions of right and wrong, of justice and charity.
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