A Scriptural reflection on the readings for Sunday, August 26, 2006. Life is so much richer when we live it consciously. We are so busy all the time. We are running around with endless lists of to dos and with many fears and concerns in our head. When we live like this, we may do many things out of habit and not because our heart and mind are engaged in the present moment. Unfortunately, this also applies to our relationship with God and to the implication of our yes to God's call. When we slow down, we get to "taste and see the goodness of the Lord" as this week's psalm reminds us. But we also realize that the most beautiful gift God gave us, was the gift of choice. We have a choice to love and follow our God, or many other "gods," be they money, pride, greed, fame, etc. We have a choice. In the first reading, Joshua presented that choice to the Israelites. "Decide today whom you will serve...", said Joshua. It must be a conscious choice, and it is not an easy one to make.
Despite all the loving things God has done and continues to do for us out of love, it is not easy to make the conscious choice to serve him. This choice comes with consequences. we must live our life according to Divine and not human values. Our thoughts, words, and actions must spring forth from our belief in Jesus and in our communal union with Him, strengthened through the Eucharist. Jesus' words challenged some of His disciples back then, and many left him and returned to their old ways. We have a choice to make, and when we say yes, we are saying yes to become one with "the Holy One of God,' who in turn will help us become holy. Many of us after thinking about the alternatives of this choice, say along with Simon Peter, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
Oh what a beautiful life we live, when we are conscious on a daily basis, that we are choosing to belief and live as Christians, and not to live on automatic pilot. Then we affirm along with Joshua, "As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Peace!
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