We have a World of OPTIONS in front of us.
It is up to us to make a better Choice of the availabilities.
The whole pattern of our life is dependent upon numerous decisions at each moment.
Hence DECISION becomes an integral part of man’s nature and behavior.
We decide the things that seem to be good, appropriate and pleasant for us.
Proper decisions will have a greater effect in our choice of: food, clothing, shelter, profession, friends, partner in business and in life etc.; to eat; to play; to learn; to earn; to sleep etc.
But: taking RIGHT DECISION AT RIGHT TIME FOR RIGHT THINGS, elevates man to higher ranks.
We have two people in today’s Readings from whom we can derive some inspiration to make proper decisions in our day to day lives.
 

1. JOSHUA for choosing between two:

Here the choice is between Yahweh and other Gods.
He declares his decision that he & his family will follow only Yahweh. At the same time the people also realized their mistake & decided to follow Yahweh being inspired by Joshua.
Similarly the choice before us is God (God and His worship; Proper reception & Living the Sacraments; Popular devotions etc) & earthly elements (Weekend entertainments and amusements; different types recreations; visiting friends and so on.) ; vices & Virtues
Though the earthly elements mentioned above are good in themselves one has to decide whether these things need any replacement with the following:

1. Daily Bible Reading
2. Family Rosary
3. Family Prayer
4. Eucharistic Adorations
5. Sacrament of Reconciliation
6. Special Ministries esp. Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Mass servers etc.

If they are already in your choice nothing to be done otherwise see what to be replaced for what.
 
 
 

2. PETER for deciding either to accept the teaching of Jesus or not…

He needs to decide either to be with Jesus.. or not to be...
Jesus’ announcement is that they have to eat his flesh for eternal life. For many people it is not acceptable and so they left Jesus. Even many of his disciple also left him.
Hence Peter also has to decide either:
TO BE WITH JESUS OR NOT…
Though many people chose NOT TO BE with Jesus, yet Peter chose TO BE with him, nwhatever he may say.
We also need to decide to be with Jesus or not to be..
To be with Jesus, one has to decide or choose:

1. To have self sacrifice (self denial & bearing cross)
2. To be within the Marriage bond (according to the Law of the Church in the Spirit of Divine Law (“..none should separate what God has united…”)
3. To be with enemies and pray for those who harm
4. To be with the needy and the poor
5. To respect the religious values
6. To care for the family spirit and its values
7. To have love and concern for the afflicted
8. To have care for the sick
9. Above all to be in the company of others which enables one to correct each other with a good heart
10.  To be with virtues & to discard vices

It is not just to say YES OR NO and follow the same. We as human beings with all limitations can’t. But our decisions should not depend on momentary emotions or results. What is needed in our decisions?
We have an example of God and the Church proposed by the second reading.
GOD’S CHOICE OF DECISION:
In the Old Testament God always said that Israel is His bride.
The bond of marital values between God and Israel broken many times temporarily but never permanently.
Though punished several times, God never decided to leave unfaithful Israel but came down as man and sacrificed himself for His bride.
Similarly the Church as bride, in spite of its weaknesses and failures, never abandoned its Lord but again and again learned to be loyal and faithful.
THAT IS THE PROPER DECISION IN FREEDOM FOR BOTH GOD AND CHURCH IN THE BOND OF FAMILY SPIRIT & VALUES
How about our decisions? Do our decisions reach higher goal and values? It is time for us to reflect very seriously.
Remember the BAPTISMAL PROMISES which are renewed every year at the time of Easter and whenever you attend the sacrament of Baptism, then you know what to decide!!!!
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-Fr John Raju Junjunuri
Mail: junjunuri@yahoo.com