Joshua led the people of Israel after Moses died. Moses took them from Egypt and through the desert, to the border of the land they would settle; but it was Joshua who took them in and led them in conquering the land.
They had been through a lot: they went from slavery, to a life in the desert where they depended on God for the simple necessities of food and water. He gave them the law and made a covenant with them. They weren't always faithful to that covenant.
Now Joshua gathers them together in their new home and gives them an ultimatum: "decide today whom you will serve." They have a choice before them - serve the God who had provided for them or serve another of the many they could choose from with their neighboring countries.
Though the Israelites wouldn't always be faithful to their promise, on this occasion, they choose the Lord. They commit themselves to God.
In the Gospel, the crowd listening to Jesus makes a different choice.
He had fed them a miraculous meal of bread and fish when there wasn't nearly enough food to go around. But then he goes into this sermon about the "bread of life."
He compares himself to Moses, the greatest prophet and leader of Israel; he put himself on the same level with God, saying only he had seen the Father; and then finally, he tells them that to have eternal life, they have to eat his flesh and drink his blood.
They had had enough. They say, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
They had come to a point of decision. Jesus had said some shocking things, challenging things - but they couldn't accept them and so many of his disciples left.
And Jesus lets them go.
He doesn't chase after them. He doesn't try to soften his words or make it easier for them to handle. He lets them go.
One of the great things about being Catholic is that we know where the Church stands. That's what comes from having a hierarchy, and relying on Tradition with the leadership of the Pope and the bishops. Someone may disagree with something the Church teaches, but there's no question of what we believe.
That is where we find the Eucharist.
For us, every Mass gives us the same opportunity that the Israelites had at Shechem and Jesus' audience had after he spoke to them. Here in this church, today and at every Mass, we make a choice about our relationship with God.
The priest says, "Behold the Lamb of God, behold he who takes away the sins of the world, blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb."
In our hearts - mine as well - we have a choice to make. Will we believe and give ourselves to him?
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