Choosing to Follow
Joshua 24:1-2, 15-17, 18b Psalm 34 St. John 6:60-69 In our Old Testament and Gospel readings, two groups of followers of God are challenged in their intention. The Israelites answer Joshua saying that they will not "forsake the Lord" (Jos 24:16), and Peter on behalf of the twelve responds to Jesus with these incredible words: Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" ( Jn 6:68). What's interesting to me is their reasons why. The Israelites had just gone through a period of victory in battle followed by peace and "rest from their enemies" (Jos 23:1). And in their reply to Joshua, they cite the goodness of the Lord in their past-- the way he brought them out of Egypt, out of slavery, performed miracles before their very eyes, and so on (24:16). They can look back in history and point to how God has been faithful to them. At first reading, I struggled a bit with this passage, and with the Psalm which so cleanly parallels it, bec