"As for Me and My Household, We will Serve the Lord"

Today's Mass readings

In continuation of Joshua’s impassioned speech in front of the people of Israel (yesterday’s reading), in today’s reading, Joshua both challenges the people to a radical commitment to the Lord and makes his own choice in this regard. In the now famous declaration, he confessed, “As for my and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Although we know about the later infidelities of the people of Israel, we have no reason to doubt that the people genuinely meant to “Fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely (Joshua 24:14-15), just as Joshua had suggested. Thrice in today’s reading the people vowed their allegiance to the Lord. “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD” (Joshua 24:16), they vowed the first time. And again they said, “We will still serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:21), and again “We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice” (Joshua 24:24).

Christian baptism is a repetition of this Old Testament event. The “I do,” at the each baptism is indicative of that person’s desire and resolve to serve the Lord and him alone. During the renewal of the baptismal promises, parents and godparents vow on behalf of their children that they will serve God and God alone. Each year during Easter, the entire Catholic community once again renews its commitment to the Lord. In doing so we resolve to become childlike (see today’s gospel reading – Mt 19:13-15). The kingdom of God belongs to the childlike.

As we perhaps have already experienced, the challenge for us Christians is to translate our vows into the daily events of our lives. Let us renew our commitment to the Lord in the words of today’s Psalm: (Ps 16)

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.

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.

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.