Jesus started his earthly mission by gathering disciples around him. He always asked them to
follow him. His aim was to groom them properly so that they would be able to follow his
ways even when he was not there with them. Christianity is a followership of Jesus. It is a
religion of commitment to live totally in accordance with the life and teachings of Jesus
Christ. Being a Christian is a serious decision and the responsibilities are great. But one really
wonders if all who identify themselves as Christians really pause sometimes to consider the
seriousness of this life decision and the type of commitment it requires. The readings of this
Sunday, which is the twenty-first Sunday of the liturgical year, speak voluminously about
commitment in faith and the type of life that accompanies it.
Following Jesus and No Other
The option to follow Jesus is a free decision one makes knowing that there is no other one
like him. Today’s Gospel reading from John 6:60-69 brings us face to face with the challenge
of this decision. Jesus is faced with the stark reality of losing many of his followers who find
his teaching on the bread of life hard and intolerable. What matters really in this context is
not so much why the many people have decided to leave but why some have decided to stay.
Sometimes people have various ulterior motives for hanging on. Jesus wants clarity. So, he
asks his twelve disciples: “Will you also go away?” It is an emotionally laden question. One
may wonder if Jesus is begging them to stay. It doesn’t seem so. All he wants is for them to
make a personal and free decision. Simon Peter comes with a powerful answer: “Lord to
whom shall we go? It is not only that Jesus is the only possible choice, he alone has what
every human heart searches for: “You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed
and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” There is no other person or power that
can validly claim these roles. This answer of Peter helps us to see the deeper ground of our
commitment to Jesus.
Need for Commitment in Faith
One of the great problems of contemporary religious practice is the lack of commitment to
the tenets of the faith. The consequence is infidelity and inconsistency in faith. This
inconsistency was so rampant in the religious life of the people of Israel that Joshua, in the
first reading of today (Josh 24:1-2,15-18), challenges the people to make a personal decision
if they really want to follow the national Deity, Yahweh, or any other god. The people
unanimously opt for the worship of Yahweh alone despite the difficulties involved in such
commitment. This free decision becomes an opportunity for them to recall what Yahweh has
been for them all this while. He has, hitherto, remained the only credible anchor and refuge
for their lives. Discovering the reasons for a life commitment is always a powerful way of
solidifying such commitment. We find this also in today’s second reading from Eph 5:21-32,
where couples are encouraged to find the reasons for their marital commitment. Both the
husband and the wife are called upon to revere each other, not only for their own sake but,
more importantly, for the sake of Christ. According to Paul, wives are to be subject to their
husbands the way the Church is subject to Christ, and husbands should love their wives the
way Christ loves the Church and offered himself for her. The union of husband and wife is
likened to the union of Christ and the Church. So, the roles of husband and wife in the marital
union are not based on human logic or human egalitarian principles but on the way Christ
relates with the Church. Without this basic understanding, none of the couples will
understand the reasons for role differentiation in marriage. Most problems in marriage arise
when the Christ dimension is no longer used to interpret or understand the roles. Then they
become seen either as oppressive or exploitative.
The Foundations of Our Religious Commitment
All the readings of this Sunday invite us to re-examine the foundations of our religious
convictions and anchor them on such solid grounds. The solid ground par excellence is Jesus
Christ. He gives form and meaning to our lives. Only his words can liberate and only his
teaching can unite and bring lasting love, healing, and peace to our fractured society. We
must decide to follow Jesus and live the way he dictates and not according to our own whims
and caprices. May His liberating words continue to find a home in our hearts and bring
healing to our troubled society!
[Readings: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32; Jn 6:60-69]
