1ST READING
Joshua tells the people that he has made his decision to follow the Lord in all things. He challenges them to do the same. Living out such a commitment will prove to be far more difficult than any of them realized. The temptations to mediocrity and compromise are many and they come unrelentingly. Let us never give up but persevere in faith all our days.
Joshua 24:1-2, 15-17, 18
1 Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God, 2 Joshua addressed all the people: 15 “If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the Gods your fathers served beyond the River or the Gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 16 But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other Gods. 17 For it was the Lord, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18 Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
P S A L M
Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21
R: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 15 [16] The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. 16 [17] The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. (R) 17 [18] When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. 18 [19] The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. (R) 19 [20] Many are the troubles of the just one, but out of them all the Lord delivers him; 20 [21] He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. (R)
2nd READING
Any relationship will require a mutual ”giving way” to one another. No one is the absolute ”boss” of any relationship. Parents may have the final say over the decisions of their children but even a good parent will realize that service and teaching are more important than power and control. The best exercise of authority is always as a service to others.
Ephesians 5:21-32 (or Ephesians 5:2, 25-32)
21 Brothers and sisters: Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. 24 As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, 27 that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
GOSPEL
I love Peter’s response when he states that in having followed Jesus for the past three years they have nowhere else to go. It’s not just their faith in Jesus that is being expressed here but also the fact that they have ”burned their bridges,” so to speak, and thus, truly have nowhere else to go. As the British are wont to say, “In for a penny; in for a pound!” Having given as much as they have, they cannot turn back to their old lives anymore.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.
John 6:60-69
60 Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” 61 Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? 62 What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. 65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” 66 As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. 67 Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
1st READING 2nd READING
think: The best exercise of authority is always as a service to others.
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 11-15
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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