In our First Reading today (Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18) we hear various verses from the last Chapter of the Book of Joshua. It is an historical moment in several ways. Joshua is one hundred and ten years old and his battles for the people of Israel are done. He gathers all the people together on an important mountain in the history of Israel. Joshua, who replaced Moses as God’s representative, calls the people together where Abraham had built an altar, where Jacob had purchased land, both referred to in the Book of Genesis. Here Joshua, desiring to make sure of the unity of faith which will keep Israel safe under the One God, makes his last stand.
What we hear is the call of Joshua and the response of Israel. We do not hear the whole speech, which recounts the entire history of God’s taking care of Israel, beginning with the Exodus. At this historical mountain, Joshua reminds the people that the One God has always been faithful to them. Confronted with the facts of their faith, standing firmly on the security of the land of abundance and life, they denounce any other gods and profess their faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua. In a sense they are saying, we are saying, that we will serve the Lord in the future, because the Lord has served us in our past. What was good enough for Abraham, Moses, and Joshua will be good enough for us and our families.
The Gospel reading (John 6:60-69) presents the culmination of the long chapter from which we have been reading these last few weeks. The discussions with Jesus’ fellow Jews about the necessity of their eating His flesh and drinking His blood have ended. What we hear is the rather intimate conversation Jesus has with His disciples about the same issue. Some of His closest friends have found these teachings just too much to take in.
Jesus reminds all His disciples (literally, those who were learning), that there is another reality besides that of the “flesh”. The “flesh” operates according to factual data, sensed information, which is processed in the mind and decisions are made by the will. But there also is the “Spirit” which moves the human being beyond the limited sense-bound life. The “flesh” is of “no avail” while the “Spirit” gives life. There are two roads that now diverge and each of His disciples and each of us is called to decide which way we will go. There are those who fear being deceived and those who have believed. I really do not know why some find believing things of the Spirit life giving, and others, who also are of good will, find these things “hard sayings”. The text here seems to indicate that the “Father” grants to some this faith and not to others. For me, that is harder to accept than my believing in this teaching of His Flesh and Blood. I do not like being deceived and so I stand in my flesh, knowing its frailty as well. I don’t understand, but that does not mean I do not believe. I will walk a little longer with Jesus and ponder and wonder. My mind is not my higher power.
In the sixteenth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples about Who they think He is compared to how the other people around say He is. Peter gives the strong and faith-filled response. Here at the end of chapter six of John’s Gospel, Jesus turns to His disciples and asks if they are going to take the road more traveled by of the “flesh”, or the other road less traveled, that of the Spirit. Peter again chooses to head down the road less traveled.
Peter’s words are a strong statement which sum up the response for which Jesus came to call all of us. The woman at the well, the man born blind, the Roman Centurion, have made similar statements of belief. Jesus has made many statements of “I AM”. Peter here with the other persons of John’s Gospel says, “You are”! Jesus has the words leading to eternal life, but that is later. The “flesh” wants “right now”.” You are the holy one of God” is Peter’s declaration of faith and for John’s Gospel, that is everything. As for “now” we have the Word, the Spirit, and the Flesh all together to keep us “accompanying” Him.
This entire chapter from which we have been listening is much more than our believing in the Eucharistic presence. The challenge of this chapter, and the entire Gospel, is about believing in Jesus as the One who has been sent into the world to offer it, and us, light and life through faith.
By nature, we are split. We doubt so easily and trust with such difficulty. Just think of how many words we use when somebody else tells us something. We say, “No kidding”, “Incredible”, “Really!”, “Come on”, “Are you pulling my leg?”, “Is that right?”, and so many others. There is so much to believe in when we believe in Jesus. We are oriented thereby to believe in the sanctity of our flesh, beyond what our flesh can understand. Believing in the Eucharist, believing in Jesus rearranges how we look at everything and everyone. Two ways, two roads, and we’d like to be believers who also understand everything. That day will come.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!