21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
In our reading, Joshua was talking to the people of Israel and their leaders. He told them that they must make a choice whether to serve our God or false gods. Joshua and his family have chosen to serve God. The people responded that they, too, would serve God since he brought them out of slavery in Egypt and protected them on their journey.
In our Gospel, the disciples (followers of Jesus) had a difficult time understanding and accepting that Jesus is the Bread of Life and that those who eat it will live forever. Even after Jesus tried to explain it to them, many stopped believing in him and went away. Jesus then asked his twelve apostles if they wanted to leave too. They answered that they believed in Him and would follow him forever.
Special Saint/Feast Day: - St. Bartholomew – August 24
Bartholomew was one of the first followers of Jesus. This apostle’s other name was Nathaniel. He became a disciple of Jesus when his friend Philip invited him to come and meet the Lord. Jesus knew that Nathaniel was an honest, sincere man whose one desire was to know the truth.
Bartholomew, preached the Gospel of Jesus at the risk of his life. It is believed that he went to India, Armenia, and other lands. He preached until he gave his life for the faith.
Jesus admired the honesty of St. Bartholomew. Even though Bartholomew had his own opinions, he wasn’t stubborn, so Jesus praised him. He also gave Bartholomew the grace of faith and the vocation to be an apostle. We can ask St. Bartholomew to help us grow in our faith, too.