My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
In this beautiful Scripture citation from the Book of Joshua, Joshua leads a conversation with the people and asks them if they wish to serve God, or some other god or person. He tells the story of their known salvation history and says that he and his household will serve the Lord. The people, after hearing the word of God through Joshua, acknowledge the wondrous deeds of God and promise to serve the Lord, “for He is our God.”
Each day you and I receive the invitation to serve God or other gods or people. We acknowledge our salvation history and promise to serve God as we receive the gift of the Sacraments of Baptism, Penance, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. The Sacraments of Marriage or Anointing of the Sick fortify us through our adult living. We receive Jesus the Eucharist, God’s Covenant of everlasting life offered for the nourishment of our soul that we might be known as God’s people and be His face to those whom we encounter. This is the living breath of salvation history — it is bringing the Real Presence of God yesterday, today, and forever 24/7/365. Joshua tells us the only times the Covenant is not fulfilled is when we walk away from God.
In the beginning of August, we were witnesses to the Olympic games. We saw many people throughout the world try to win a gold medal for various athletic abilities. I praise God for His gift of life and for those who honored Him by their abilities in these Olympic games, especially Kruz Schembri-McCord of St. Ann Parish in Haines City. Mr. Schembri-McCord knows the gift of God. Like Joshua, he proclaims that he has already won the gold by God’s everlasting Covenant, the gift of the Eucharist. During the Olympics, we saw those who “won” the gold wrapped in their country’s flag. By the Eucharist, Christ sanctifies the Church by wrapping her in the spotless, wrinkle-free “garment” of His loving Word.
As we live through, with and in our triune God, God promises to care for each one of us and we promise to care for each one we meet each day. We see to our basic physical needs by obtaining food, clothing, and shelter. We are also called to help those who cannot provide for their own or their family’s basic physical needs by our mutual giving. We console those whose tears fall freely because of sadness or loss. We hold those who need our strength and might and we pray for them. After a storm, we check on our neighbor to assure his safety. We participate in opportunities to serve those in third-world countries through parish missions or the Diocesan Mission of San Juan de la Maguana. For each individual household belongs to the community household of God. If we pledge, like Joshua, to serve the Lord, then we are pledging to serve all God’s people.
Just a week ago, our children returned to school. Parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers, catechists, faculty, staff, volunteers, religious and clergy all lead, like Joshua, to help one another understand they already have the gold by their faith in God. Let us pray with gratitude for them. Let us also pray for our students who lead the adults to understand God by their faithfulness.
Joshua’s point is, God is with us. Are we with God?