Will You Also Go Away? Taste and See that the Lord is Good.

Homily for August 26, 2018.

_“Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” *(John 6:60)*_

Today, we finally come to the end of our six-week journey; the encounter between Jesus and the large crowd that gathered about him. In the course of this journey, we have learnt a lot of lessons such as: how a good shepherd should care for his sheep, the power of thanksgiving which multiplies our little, the Holy Eucharist as food which endures to eternal life, the fact that bitterness is self-destruction, and that wisdom means caring more for our souls than our bodies.

Reading through John chapter 6, we have done a catechism course on the Holy Eucharist, the true body and blood of Jesus Christ. However, something quite striking happens in today’s Gospel passage, despite all that these people got from Jesus, (teaching, healing miracles and food), despite almost making Jesus a king, they still had the guts to walk away from Jesus. What is the meaning of this and how does it apply to our own lives today?

*Lesson One: Walking Out of Jesus is Refusing to Follow His Word.*

The attitude of nowadays Christians can be summed up in a comment I once read somewhere which states: “The commandments of God are fine, but some are just impossible to keep.” Obeying the Sabbath day is easy, after all, it affords us the opportunity of meeting with friends and showing off our nice dresses and accessories. Honouring our parents, showing respect to the elderly, that’s okay. No problem. But what happens to the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth?

Dear friends, each time we refuse to obey God’s instruction in any aspect of our lives for the reason of their sheer difficulty, we are no better than this crowd. We are like children that never learnt to walk because walking proved too difficult. We are even worse than the crowd because unlike them, we do not walk away but remain and attempt to re-write the Bible to suit our convenience.

Now, let us examine ourselves: Where and how have I walked away from Jesus? What are those aspects of my life that are completely at variance with God’s expectations? What are those Biblical teachings I consider too hard or just unreasonable?

*Lesson Two: Marriage and Dating, common examples of Walking Away from Jesus.*

Many young persons today do not accept the church’s insistence that sex before marriage is a sin. They claim there is nothing wrong with falling in love and getting to know the person they want to marry intimately. What they fail to realize is that the same disciple required to sustain one’s virginity before marriage is the discipline required to remain faithful in marriage.

Now, consider what St. Paul is saying in today’s second reading; that wives should be subject to their husbands as the head of the home. How many wives still believe and accept this portion of the Bible? Some husbands read only the beginning aspect of this passage, and close their eyes to the latter which states that husbands must love their wives and take care of her more than their own body?

How many husbands will refuse to put food in their mouth unless their wife has eaten to her fill already? How many husbands will take care of their wives’ body, bathe it daily, adorn it with the best clothes, ensure her hair is well made and the hairstyle is changed regularly even before they remember to bathe their own body? Men, do your part and submissiveness will follow. Women, know that men need respect, affirmation and constant praise not nagging, fighting and suspicion. Men, know that women need respect, listening ears and enough money to look good.

*Lesson Three: The Christian Life is a Choice.*

The beauty of what happens in today’s Gospel passage is that when the people walked away from Jesus, He did not call down fire from heaven to burn them. Jesus will not even try to use sweet mouth to get them back. In fact, Jesus asked the twelve: “Will you also go away?” That is a question for you and me today. Many have walked away from Jesus already through their sinful lifestyle. What about you? Will you follow suit or stay with Jesus – be an authentic Christian?

This is the point Joshua makes in today’s first reading. “If you will be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve…” Joshua 24:15. In other words, if you have a problem with following God’s instructions, no need putting one leg in and another out, just decide where you really want to be. Our psalmist today sings: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” What is keeping you stuck in those sinful habits, why not give God a try today. Taste God, follow those “difficult” instructions you have always resisted and you will see that God is Good.

As at the time Peter said “to whom shall we go,” he had no idea how the Holy Eucharist would be. He probably had other thoughts but with that statement, Peter was making a choice to be submissive and remain with Jesus. This is the same disposition we must all have; a disposition to love and obey all of God’s instructions even when doing so proves too difficult, too unpopular or seemingly unreasonable.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, I will not walk away, I will not follow the world, to whom shall I go, you alone have the key to eternal life, I believe in you, give me the grace to remain faithful to this commitment. Amen.

*Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Bible Study: Joshua 24:1-18, Psalm 34:1-22, Ephesians 5:21-32 and John 6:60-69).*