Twenty-first Sunday of ORDINARY TIME. 27th August 2000

First: Jos 24:1-2.15-17; Second: Eph 5:21-32; Gospel: Jn 6:60-69

THEME of the READINGS

Making decisions is the key to the different texts of today’s liturgy. The tribes gathered by Joshua at Shechem must decide whether to serve Yahweh or other gods. They decide to serve Yahweh (first reading). Jesus confronts his disciples, who are scandalized by his words (eat my flesh and drink my blood), with a decision: "What about you? Do you want to go away too?" Peter replies on behalf of the other disciples, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life" (Gospel). Finally, in the second reading, Christ’s irrevocable decisions for his Church serve as an example of the mutual decision of husband and wife to love one another.

DOCTrinal MESSAGE

Making decisions in a responsible way. Being a rational human being means making decisions concerning the small and great things of life. In other words, to live one must make decisions. This is already something very important, for it distinguishes us from all the other creatures. However, it is not the whole picture, for one may make right as well as wrong decisions. Making the right decision is more important than making decisions at all. What does making a good decision involve? Here are some significant aspects: 1) Making the right decision means leaving something behind. It means leaving behind all the elements that prevent or at least make it difficult to make the right decision. The tribes of Israel must give up, renounce the gods of their parents and the gods of the Amorites (first reading). The disciples must let go of their cultural and religious prejudices before the scandal of the Eucharist (Gospel). Husbands and wives must give up any other spousal love that is not the love of their spouse (second reading). 2) To make the right decision means preferring. Certainly, to prefer good over evil, but in many occasions it means preferring best over good. One prefers the good and the best, according to the vocation and mission that each one has received in life. Everything that is in contrast with the call to be a Christian must be left behind, and everything that fosters it must be preferred. Whatever contributes most to making me live a Christian life is what I must prefer over other things, as good as they may be. This is the way to make a responsible decision.

Making decisions based on faith. In order for a decision to be responsible, it must be based on solid foundations. Such foundations cannot consist of mere feelings, tastes, whims or personal convenience; nor can they depend on cold pure reason, or solid willpower. One must decide on the basis of one’s faith, on the basis of one’s total confidence in the faithfulness and power of God. The Israelites felt attracted by the gods of neighboring villages, but they had the experience that Yahweh is the only faithful God, rich in mercy. In living with Jesus, Peter and the disciples experienced that only he "has the words of eternal life," as scandalous as it may sound to their ears. When a man and a woman say "yes" to each other forever, they do so "in the Lord," that is, they confide in the power of God that will help them to stick to their decision. It is faith, a clear, firm, certain, irrevocable faith, which drives and sets in motion the human capacity to make decisions. When instead of being based on faith or reason enlightened by faith our decisions are grounded on something else, there is the great risk that the decision will fall apart as the years go by, as situations change, with the daily wear and tear of living together. Faith grounds our decisions in truth and goodness, which are immovable pillars, enduring all attacks and weathering all storms.

PASTORal SUGGESTIONS

Do not make decisions superficially. In our society, decisions are frequently made superficially. Certainly, there are many minor decisions that one makes each day without even thinking, and that do not have any evident importance or consequences. For example, what time to go out shopping, which restaurant to go to for dinner or what menu to choose for Sunday’s meal. However, it would be best to think even before making such decisions, to develop the ability and habit of always making mature decisions. Nevertheless, there are certain decisions which not only affect a single moment or one given aspect, but our entire life. For example, whether or not to marry, whom to marry, whether or not to change religion, whether or not to have an abortion, whether or not to practice a religion, whether or not to work in the parish, whether to chose this or that profession, etc. These decisions should never be taken lightly. Otherwise, one would be hurting oneself very seriously, in addition to greatly damaging society in general and especially the society of one’s own family. How it is possible that we sometimes make decisions in such a superficial way on matters of such importance? The answer that I give myself is that people, especially the youngest generations, have not been trained to make decisions on the basis of the truth and on the basis of what is good. They are the children of the ephemeral present, they are the children of the disposable culture, they are the children of immediate gratification. How are they going to be put in the position to make decisions for a lifetime?

Decisions must be formed. There are people who by virtue of their temperament are more capable of making decisions, and others who are less determined or undecided. Regardless of one’s temperament, we must learn to make decisions, so that the decisions we make are firm, responsible and mature. Those with a more determined temperament will have to be more prudent when making decisions, so that they do not run too many risks. Those with a more undecided temperament will have to develop a sense of fearlessness and courage, so as to adequately come to a decision. Both should learn to make decisions with full awareness and freedom, so that they may decide in a way that is worthy of a human being. A decision taken by force, whether psychological, physical or moral, will never be a good decision, nor will it allow us to grow in our human dignity. In order for the human being to make right and enriching decisions, decisions will have to be related to their object; in other words, to the knowledge of good and truth. A good decision matures under the heat of reflection and pondering, foreign on the one hand to any haste and recklessness, and on the other to all abandonment, mental laziness or perplexity. Are parents educating their children to make mature decisions? As adults, are we setting the example of good, firm and responsible decisions for our children? Are we convinced that building a decision-making capacity in a man is more important for his future than being computer-literate or having a university degree?

Source: http://www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2004-05/21-13/CICLOB.html by P. ANTONIO IZQUIERDO L.C. (1948-2013)

[참고: 이 파일은 저서명 "가톨릭 교회의 말씀 전례에 따른 성경공부 해설서"(엮은이: 소순태, 출판사: 가톨릭출판사)의 각주의 연장으로 마련되었습니다].