Word to the Wise
Saturday, August 18, 2007 - Nineteenth Saturday in Ordinary Time
[Joshua 24:14-29 and Matthew 19:13-15]As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2007 NINETEENTH SATURDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [Joshua 24:14-29 and Matthew 19:13-15] As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua seems to imitate his mentor, Moses. He leads the Chosen People across the Jordan in almost the same way as Moses led them across the Red Sea! Now he confronts them with the question of religious unity. He tells them they have to decide whom they will worship. The covenant he establishes that day provides for the unity of belief that would support the tribes even though they might have their own particular "heritage." We know, however, that they don't "live happily ever after" when it comes to religious matters. Those idols they claim to get rid of seem to keep coming back. Part of it is that religious unity may have been easier to maintain when they were nomads. Once they "settle" in the land of Canaan, some of those fertility cults seemed to have been more attractive. Again and again, the prophets would have to confront them. Ultimately, Joshua's choice is the choice of every family and individual that wishes to maintain faith. A fundamental decision has to be made and maintained no matter what the temptation of other "idols" may be. All of us know that the Christian commitment is difficult to live fully in our highly secular and materialistic culture. We can find ourselves worshiping "idols" without being aware that we ever started! Families and individuals can make those seemingly harmless little compromises that erode faith: skipping Sunday Mass for another event (soccer, concert, too sleepy), little white lies, etc. etc. Joshua's challenge can be a tough one. But we do have to decide! AMEN
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