As for me and my house...

08-22-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Arul Doss

Dear People of God,

I thank God the Almighty for the good weather on Last Sunday because we had a nice Fall Festival at St. Boniface, Waumandee. I also appreciate and thank all the members of Fall Festival committee for your meticulous planning and successful execution of it. I also appreciate all who volunteered for various works and helped with your stuffs. I could see many people working throughout the day. I feel proud of you all. May our mighty God bless you all for your selfless service to our Church.

On this twenty first Sunday of ordinary time, the first reading and gospel encourage us to always remain with God. At times, when we come to the cross road of life, we are confused about which way to go. These are moments when we must make the right decisions, and the decisions and choice we make at such moments shape our future.

In our first reading, Joshua tells the leaders of the Israelites to decide as to who they shall serve in this life, “If it does not, please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you shall serve.” At this time, the Israelites were not wholeheartedly committed to the Lord. But Joshua outspokenly addresses this situation and challenges them to decide. As he presents them with this opportunity, he boldly states, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” The Israelites responded saying, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods…Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

In today’s gospel, after the bread of life discourse, some followers of Christ were disappointed and left from following Jesus. So, turning to his own disciples, Christ asked: “What about you, do you want to go away too?” This question from Christ is like Joshua’s. It leaves one with an option to remain with or, to abandon Christ at difficult moments in life. Then, the disciples responded saying “Lord, who shall we go to? You have the word of eternal life…You are the Holy One of God.”

Sometimes, we are also bombarded with endless distractions around us. For instance, putting technology (phone, internet, TV), or our social lives before the Lord. We also might be putting these things above our loved ones, and if we are doing that, then we are putting them above our relationship with God. In these situations, like Joshua and disciples, we should always say: “As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.” So, our song must always be: “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no going back.”

Have a Happy and Blessed Sunday!

Yours lovingly,
Fr. Doss

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