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Bowling Green OH 43402
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Rev Mark Davis, Pastor

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Homily for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Aug 27, 2006)

Gospel intro: Last Sunday we heard Jesus tell his disciples that we must eat his flesh and drink his blood if we want to live forever. This Sunday we hear the reaction of his disciples.

Homily
Story: Some years ago on the border of Venezuela and Columbia, a band of guerillas came out of the jungle on a Sunday morning and smashed their way into a little chapel as mass was beginning. The priest and congregation were totally horrified. They dragged the priest outside and then the guerilla leader came back into the chapel and demanded: "Anyone else who believes in this God stuff come forward." Everyone was frozen in fear, and then after a long silence one man stood up and said simply: "I love Jesus."
    He was quickly tossed outside. As several others stood up and testified to their faith they too were dragged outside. When there was no more people willing to identify themselves as followers of Jesus, the doors were closed and there was the sound of machine gun fire. The guerilla chief returned and told the remaining congregation to get out of the chapel. What do you think he meant when he said to them: "You have no right to be here."?
    When they went outside how shocked they were to see their priest and the others standing there. The Guerilla chief told the priest and those who had professed faith to go back in and continue the Mass. He angrily ordered the others: "Stay out until you have the courage to stand up for your beliefs!" 

·        None of us can say for sure what choice we would make if we had a gun pointed at us, but our choice with regard to Jesus Christ will impact where we spend eternity.

·        When given a choice, Peter chose to stay with Jesus: “Where else can we go. You have the words of eternal life.” and eventually that choice would make him a martyr in Rome .


II).Throughout their history, the Jewish people were tempted to pursue other gods, as represented in the religions of the various Palestinians around them.

A-    In today’s first reading we heard how Joshua assembled the Jewish people dwelling among the Amorites. Joshua tells them: “Decide today whom you will serve. The Lord, the God of Abraham and Moses or the gods of the people among whom you have lived. Then he testifies: As for me and my family: “We will serve the Lord.”

III)..There have been many times in which people have been forced to make a choice between their faith in God and their loyalty to their country

A-    The King of Tyre said “I am a god” But Ezekiel condemns him as a mortal and no god.

B-    Many of the early Christians died because they would not worship Caesar as a god. even facing death ,they chose Christ over the patriotism to the Empire. 

C-    We are not asked to worship an emperor, but every nation has a way of making some aspects of our culture into little gods. What might some of these be?

EG: Jane does not want to be part of any church or any religion. Her god could be called
Personalism or Privatism – No one can tell me what to do. I don’t need a church. I will decide what the Bible means. I will decide what is right and wrong for me. Since I never really sin, I do not believe I need to experience forgiveness from a Savior. 

EG: Harry thinks he is a Christian and he even goes to church.  His god could be called the bottom line. 
As long as he is financially comfortable, his version of God approves of whatever his country does.        
Since his god is the god of health and wealth, he does not chose to pick up his cross and following Jesus in pouring out his life for others.

Conclusion: Joshua today challenges us: Decide today. Which God are you going to serve.
The gods of the people among whom you dwell, or the Lord  God of Abraham and Moses; the God of Jesus Christ?     May our response be the response of Peter: “ Lord to whom else shall we go?                You have the words of eternal life.