Podcast Summary
God's call to choose Him: We are called to make a daily choice for or against God, with the help of Jesus' teachings and the National Eucharistic Revival, for eternal life.
We are all called to make a choice for or against God, who has already chosen us. This choice demands daily fidelity in all aspects of our lives. The readings from John's Gospel and Joshua remind us of this important reality. Jesus' teachings may be hard, but they offer eternal life. Those who believe in Him as the Holy One of God will follow Him, while others may return to their former way of life. The choice is not easy, but it is essential. We are called to respond to God's self-gift with a commitment to Him. The National Eucharistic Revival in the United States provides an opportunity for us to renew this commitment. In the first and second readings, Joshua confronts the Israelites with the same choice, and Jesus prepares us for this decision in His teachings. Let us listen to Jesus' words and ask for His help to respond like the saints would.
Serving God vs. Other Gods: We cannot remain neutral in our spiritual lives; we must make a clear and deliberate decision to serve God, rejecting other gods, whether they be false deities, material possessions, or personal desires.
We cannot be neutral in our spiritual lives; we all serve something or someone. Joshua's challenge to the Israelites to choose between serving the Lord or the gods of their ancestors underscores the importance of making a clear and deliberate decision about our faith. Past choices are not enough, and we must renew our commitment to God, especially when faced with temptations. This choice for God means rejecting other gods, whether they be false deities, material possessions, or personal desires. St. Paul's description of Christian marriage illustrates this total commitment to God and to one another. In today's world, where commitments are often seen as burdensome, it takes courage to make a lifelong commitment to God and to others.
Eucharistic commitment: The Eucharist calls us to make a lifelong commitment to Christ, structuring our lives around it, and making Him the foundation, summit, root, and center of our existence.
Our relationship with Christ requires a deeper commitment than any human relationship. Just as Christ made a lifelong commitment to save us, make us holy, and bring us eternal happiness, we are called to respond with an enthusiastic and faithful "yes." In the Eucharist, we not only affirm our belief in Christ's real presence but also commit to structuring our lives around it. By saying "amen," we are proclaiming that we want the reality of the Eucharist to be the foundation of our existence. This commitment may be challenging, but it is essential for living a truly eucharistic life, drawing our life from Christ and making Him the source, summit, root, and center of our existence. Despite the difficulty, it is a commitment worth making.
Jesus' teachings and the Eucharist: Despite the difficulty of understanding Jesus' teachings, especially the concept of the Eucharist, those with faith are able to accept and believe in them.
The teachings of Jesus, including the Eucharist, are challenging and difficult to fully comprehend. Despite this, those with faith in Jesus are able to accept and believe in His teachings, even when they seem impossible or counterintuitive. The Eucharist, specifically, is not just bread and wine, but God Himself, a concept that can be hard to grasp. However, as Jesus never pretended that His teachings would be easy, and as believers have signed up to follow Him, it is no surprise that the Eucharist and other teachings require faith and courage. St. Peter, for example, struggled to understand how he would eat Jesus' flesh and drink His blood, but he believed in Jesus and ultimately accepted this teaching. Similarly, we must believe in Jesus and trust that He will reveal the truth to us, even when it is difficult or hard to understand.
Eucharistic commitment: Jesus calls us to fully commit to Him and the Eucharist daily, not just as an occasional practice, and to draw strength from it, while warning against sacrilegious reception and neglect.
Jesus wants us to fully commit to Him and the Eucharist, not just as an occasional practice but as a daily, sustaining source of life. He calls us to work hard for this gift and to draw our strength from it, experiencing a deep, spousal union with Him. Sadly, many have wandered away from this commitment, either denying the true nature of the Eucharist or neglecting it altogether. Even those who attend Mass may not fully receive Jesus with faith, love, and reverence. Jesus knew the betrayal of Judas, who received Him sacrilegiously during the first Eucharist. Let us reflect on our own commitment to Jesus and the Eucharist, ensuring that we do not betray Him with our actions or priorities.
Eucharistic choice: Making a daily choice to prioritize relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist leads to transformation and a life filled with God's love and grace.
We are called to make a choice every day to prioritize our relationship with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. This choice goes beyond just attending Mass on Sundays, but involves recognizing the awesome privilege of daily encounter with Jesus and making time for Him in our lives. The speaker shares his personal experience of making this choice during his college years, leading him to attend Daily Mass every day for the past 36 years. Jesus, the new Joshua, calls us to make this choice today and every day, inviting us to serve Him wholeheartedly and prioritize our time with Him. By doing so, we will be transformed and our lives will be filled with the love and grace of God.
Choosing Jesus in the Eucharist: Each time we participate in the Eucharist, we have the opportunity to choose Jesus, affirm our love and hunger for Him, and experience eternal life.
Importance and joy of choosing Jesus in the Eucharist. The speaker expresses their deep desire to be with Jesus, recognizing that He is the source of eternal life and the word made flesh. Each time we participate in the Eucharist, we have the opportunity to make this choice anew, to affirm our love and hunger for Him. Jesus extends this invitation to us, and we are blessed to be called to this supper. This choice brings us closer to Him and allows us to experience eternal life. May we all respond with joy and enthusiasm, saying "Jesus, I choose you. Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I hunger for you."