“Do You Also Want To Leave?”

Readings for 21st Sunday

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“Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

My dearest Friends in Christ.

May the name of the Lord be praised both now and forever, Amen. Today’s readings invite us to reconsider our choice as disciples to remain with Christ and His Church or to leave. The Christian life is a series of daily choices for God or against God, as we choose to live out or reject the truths He has revealed through His prophets in the Old Testament, especially His Son Jesus in the New Testament. Our fundamental choice determines how we live our lives, deciding whom we will serve.

In the face of all the scandals maladministration issues, and doctrinal complexity facing the Church, many are disenchanted and might be warming up to leave the Church. Recently a renowned novelist of Nigerian extraction, Adichie, severed with the Catholic Church in Nigeria on account of many anomalies she observed in the Nigerian Catholic Church. I don’t justify her actions. Many left the Church in the past as a result of Pentecostal influences. The Catholic Church for them is not fashionable enough for their liking. The doctrinal orthodoxy and dogmatic teachings which are inexplicable in the light of reason are some of their objections and causes of dissatisfaction. It was for similar reasons, many of the disciples of Jesus left Him as we saw in the Gospel of today. What He said about His Body as bread that came down from heaven and the everlasting nourishment it provides, did not make sense to them.

The Body of Christ (Eucharist) has been the subject of many theological controversies among Pentecostal groups. Till today, the Catholic Church has remained firm and unequivocally defends and preaches the “Real Presence” of Christ in the Eucharist. You have a choice to believe it or not. But let me ask, must every truth about religion make sense to us? If everything about God or religion is subject to rational understanding, where is the place of “faith” in our religious life, and why is religion the realm of the Divine? Why are many criticizing and leaving the Church on account of Her doctrines and age-long traditions? If this Church has lasted for 2024 years with all Her teachings and doctrines, still intact after all the persecutions she went through during these periods in history, what makes you think, that the doctrines will be scrapped today? It is like thinking that someday another book will replace the Bible. Why are we being swept off by the wave of Pentecostalism that seeks to make things rational; relying solely on the Bible and interpreting it to suit personal ambitions while playing down those aspects of religion that rely wholly on faith?

Are you also planning to leave because the Church and its ministers are suffering in this present generation? Are you worried about the scandals and abuses currently eclipsing the missionary spirit of the Church and raising doubts in the minds of many about the authenticity of the Church and its ministers? Granted that there are human errors in the Church, the Church the Sacrament of Christ, and God’s Divine Institution. We all are also stakeholders in this missionary activity and must continue to pray for Her. One thing is certain, the gates of hell shall never prevail against Her.( cf Matt 16:18)

There comes a time in a person’s life when one needs to make choices. Life is full of decisions and choices. God created men and women with free will to decide their path in life. He gives us options, not orders, and has faith in us that we will make the right choices when the time comes. Whether we are purchasing a car, a house, starting a family, moving, beginning or changing a career, deciding what to eat for dinner, or what movie we are going to watch tonight, we all have decisions in our lives. Yes, some are bigger than others, but God loves it when we are listening closely to His direction and we make righteous choices. This doesn’t come naturally for anyone, we all need a little help, a little guidance, and a whole lot of Grace. So what choice are you making today; to leave the Church or to stay with Her? Many times we choose to leave a particular place for another because we think where we are going is better, but in the long run we discover that we left the right place for the wrong place. Peter and the Apostles were wise and faithful to discern that Jesus has the words of eternal life and they chose not to leave Him. Do you think it will be a wise choice for you to leave this Church or this Christ that has the words of eternal life? Perhaps you have to reconsider your choice.

In the first reading, Joshua assembled and challenged all the tribes of Israel at Shechem to decide whom they would serve; either the living God of Israel or the gods of the Amorites in whose land they dwelt. This Renewal of Covenant ceremony in Joshua chapter 24 reminds us that the Eucharist is a Covenant Meal that calls for a decision of faith. Today we are faced with similar options to choose who we shall serve. Like Joshua, I have already chosen and dedicated myself to serving God in the Catholic Church. No matter what happens I will die in the Lord and as a Catholic. It is all about the choice you make today. If you choose to leave the Church today like those Jews whose minds were not open to the truths of faith, the choice is yours, but remember the Lord needs you. We all need you.

The second reading emphasizes the unity that must exist in the Body of Christ and the intimate relationship between Jesus and His followers. It also challenges the Ephesian Christians and us to make the right choices in life and build Christian marriages on mutual respect and love, accepting others’ rights and dignity. Paul also uses the husband-wife relationship as an analogy to explain the close relationship between Christ and the Church. Paul reminds us that Jesus nourishes us, the members of his Church, through the Eucharist, making us His Flesh and Blood, as husband and wife become one flesh.v

Concluding His long Eucharistic discourse, today’s Gospel passage describes the various reactions of the people to Jesus’ claims. Jesus gives His twelve apostles the option of leaving Him or staying with Him. The Apostles exercised their freedom of choice by choosing to stay with Jesus. In this Eucharistic celebration, we too, are called to decide to profess our Faith in God’s Son and renew the Covenant ratified in Jesus’ Life, Death, and Resurrection.

Let us therefore, as wise children of God make the right religious choices. May the light of the Holy Spirit help us to discern the right choices to make in every aspect of our lives. May our free will never lead us to sin but to choose all that will be pleasing to God. The choices you make in life define who you are and what you are going to become, so choose wisely.

I keep you and your family always in my prayers. Please pray for me on August 24th which will be my 11th anniversary in the priesthood.

I keep you and your family always in my prayers. ©Clem C. Aladi (2024)