Reading 1 Jos 24:14-29
Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
and addressed them, saying:
“Fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely.
Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt,
and serve the LORD.
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.”
But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD
for the service of other gods.
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.
At our approach the LORD drove out all the peoples,
including the Amorites who dwelt in the land.
Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”
Joshua in turn said to the people,
“You may not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God;
he is a jealous God who will not forgive
your transgressions or your sins.
If, after the good he has done for you,
you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods,
he will do evil to you and destroy you.”
But the people answered Joshua, “We will still serve the LORD.”
Joshua therefore said to the people,
“You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD.”
They replied, “We are, indeed!”
Joshua continued:
“Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you
and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
Then the people promised Joshua,
“We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice.”
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day
and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem,
which he recorded in the book of the law of God.
Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak
that was in the sanctuary of the LORD.
And Joshua said to all the people, “This stone shall be our witness,
for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us.
It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God.”
Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own heritage.
After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD,
died at the age of a hundred and ten.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 11
- (See 5a) you are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R.You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Alleluia See Mt 11:25
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 19:13-15
Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
Today’s first reading is of the speech Joshua gave before re-establishing a covenantal relationship between God and His people.
Joshua told them “fear the Lord and serve Him perfectly and sincerely.” Let us reflect on what it means to serve the Lord sincerely and perfectly.
Let us explain this against five backdrops
- To serve the Lord sincerely is to love him above all things.
There are many things contesting for our love in this life. Unless we love God above every other person or thing, we do not love Him enough and we cannot serve Him as He deserves. Anything we love more than God or that threatens total love of God has become a false rival-god in our lives. Many people today have so many of this.
- To serve the Lord sincerely is to place all our trust in Him:
This is why Joshua told the people to discard their alien gods. We cannot trust in God partly and trust partly in other things. Either God alone or we are not serving Him at all.
How do we explain someone who prays for success or God’s blessing and yet he is cheating or seeking prosperity or success through dubious means or ways that run contrary to the Christian faith? God cannot be deceived.
- To serve God sincerely is to serve Him in total obedience.
Unless we obey God in all things, we do not obey Him, as He deserves. Total obedience to God is holiness and only this is fitting for a Holy God. God demands that we obey Him totally in all things. When we obey God selectively according to our comfort and convenience and our own plans and desires, we are not serving Him in truth.
- To serve God sincerely is to seek His glory always.
That is, to live for His glory and do all things for His glory. When we do all we do to gain attention, admiration and praises or we place the self at the centre of our service; we are serving ourselves and not God. Humility is needed to serve God worthily.
- To serve God sincerely is to seek to lead other people to Him.
This is why in today’s gospel; Jesus disagreed with the disciples who tried to turn children away from him.
We do not serve God in truth if our conduct and character lead people away from Him. True service of God is love of others and sincere service to them in a way that will lead them to God.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okami on August 17, 2019