＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Joshua summoned

All the tribes of Israel in Shechem, and assembled the elders, leaders, judges and secretaries. And together they presented themselves before God.

Addressing the people, Joshua said to them: Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands me to say to you: if you do not want to serve Yahweh, make known this very day whom you shall serve – whether they be the gods your ancestors served in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites who formerly occupied the land in which you now live.

As for me, I and my household will serve Yahweh.” The people answered: “May God not permit that we ever abandon Yahweh to serve other gods! For it was he who brought us and our ancestors out of Egypt, the house of slavery it was he who did those great wonders that we have seen; he protected us on the way and through all the land where we passed.

So we shall also serve Yahweh: he is our God!

 

Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21, 22-23

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 5:21-32   (Ephesians 5:2a, 25-32)

 Let all kinds of submission to one another become obedience to Christ.   So wives to their husbands: as to the Lord.

 The husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of whom he is also the Savior.  And as the Church submits to Christ, so let a wife submit in everything to her husband.

 As for you, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.   He washed her and made her holy by baptism in the Word.   As he wanted a radiant Church without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless, he himself had to prepare and present her to himself.

 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves him­self.   And no one has ever hated his body; he feeds and takes care of it. That is just what Christ does for the Church,   because we are members of his body.

Scripture says: Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊    

John 6:60-69

 After hearing this, many of Jesus’ followers said, “This language is very hard! Who can accept it?”  Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this and so he said to them, “Does this offend you?   Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?  

 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe.”

From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, “As I have told you, no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”

 After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Read: Jesus's words on his bread of life discourse are very hard to understand. Even some of his disciples could not accept them. Jesus has in turn said that if we could not accept his words now, how much more the greater things yet to come? He also discloses that not all who follow him will persevere. Because of this many left him. Only a handful remain who believe.

Reflect: The honeymoon is now over. Jesus has to tell them hard truths. Many so far follow him because his words are pleasant and do not shock. But he has to tell them the hard truth. He doesn't want them to be blind disciples but wide awake and aware.

And so, when he started giving the bread of life discourse, many leave him because the language is hard to believe. This is the moment when a believer is asked to discern and make a response. After all, the decision to believe is a mature decision.

It cannot be taken lightly. Many disciples leave. Only the twelve with Peter as their spokesperson did not. They have heard and seen enough to convince them that Jesus is the Holy One Of God. It is their witness that the church preserves as her article of faith.

Respond: Let us examine and see how many times we leave the Lord behind when it is difficult and hard. These moments need not be a cause of shame for us. Rather, they tell us who we are. And the more we understand ourselves, the better we can control and discipline ourselves.