Father Thomas Welbers' Homily	Jump back to Homily Index
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 24, 2003 Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Ephesians 5:21-32 John 6:60-69	Listen to Audio

During the past few weeks, we’ve been listening to Jesus revealing to the crowds and to his disciples, his closest followers, the nature of the “Good Gift,” which is what the word “Eucharist” means in its root origins. This “Good Gift” is nothing other than himself, in the act of total self-giving – his body sacrificed for us, his blood poured out for us as the enduring sign of the new Covenant, the binding pledge of God’s saving presence for all people.

We just heard that that made him unpopular with a lot of people who had found him otherwise attractive. Many who had followed him and listened intently to his words, now found his words difficult to swallow, and turned their backs on him. It’s very strong evidence that Jesus meant what he said about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, for he did not call them back and say, “Wait a minute, you misunderstood me. I only meant that symbolically, not really!” No he didn’t do that. He knew that they understood him correctly, and that was why they left him.

For us, the deeper question is, why did the others stay? This question is answered by Peter in what I think are the most profound, simplest, and most beautiful few words in the entire Bible: “Lord, to whom should we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe that you are the Holy One of God.”

This statement, a clear profession of faith, does not come easy, and it cannot be taken lightly. Rather, Peter expressed a profound choice on the part of those who stayed with Jesus, and it’s important to be aware of the nature of that choice. It wasn’t that they found Jesus’ words pleasant or logical; it wasn’t that Jesus was a great orator or a convincing speaker. It wasn’t his teaching, primarily – it was himself.

The choice of the true disciple is not so much to believe this or that teaching, but to belong to a person. In effect, Peter, speaking for the faithful disciples, was saying, “Lord, we are yours. We belong to no one else. We choose you.”

Choice is a word that is much glorified today. Ultimately there is only one choice: between Jesus Christ himself, and one’s own self-centeredness. Perhaps the terms of that choice now are for life or for death – in the many ways our society presents us with the culture of death. Perhaps the terms of that choice are for generosity or for greed – in the many ways we want more than we need. Whatever the situation, the real choice is Jesus or self.

When we come here to the Eucharist, to listen to the words of Jesus, to allow him to nourish us with his sacrificed body and blood, it’s pretty clear what choice we say that we are making. When we go from here into our homes, to our place of work or recreation, in the marketplace and the political arena, do our actions and decisions follow the choice we profess here? Or, in real life, do we reveal where our choices really are by saying one thing in here, and doing something else out there?

© Thomas Welbers 2003