HAPPY CRISIS

Reflections on the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Joshua 24:1-18; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69)

Are crises always bad? Could there be a happy crisis? Psychologists, philosophers, and theologians alike agree a crisis could also serve as a moment of truth, growth, and discernment. Let’s look into two crises narrated in today’s liturgy. In the first reading we meet Joshua, the ageing leader of Israel delivering what will eventually become his farewell address. He has been entrusted with the mammoth task of leading Israel from the Jordan River to take the Promised Land (2-3), conquering the territories of the Canaanites (1-12) and finally supervising the division of the land among the tribes (chap 13-22). At the end of a reasonably well done job, it is now time for him to leave but a crisis looms large. Moses is worried if his people would continue to walk the path of Yahweh after his departure. This concern seems valid given the fact that the people of Israel had already developed varying levels of affliations to gods of other lands they had encountered in their journey.

The Gospel presents the progressive evolution of a crisis. John chapter 6 began with an awe-inspiring multiplication of the loaves and walking on the Sea. And the feedback of the people is understandably euphoric. They want to take him by force and make him king (6:15). However, things begin to change soon. The Jews begin to murmur at his claim that he is the bread which came down from heaven (6:41). Then they begin to dispute among themselves saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (6:52). And now, it is not just the Jews. Many of his own disciples are now complaining, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” (6:60). It is interesting to note that when they decide to call it quits, Jesus does not tone down his teaching. He does not stop them or make a plea to reconsider. He simply lets them go. He then turns to the twelve (his last remaining innermost circle) and asks them, “Do you also wish to go away?” There are three key aids that help Joshua and the twelve in turning their moments of crisis into happy moments of grace.

1. Memory from the Past:

The Greeks call it anamnesis (ἀνάμνησις) meaning the art of remembering. Joshua, in the first reading, gathers all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and invites them to do exactly that. He recounts the events in Egypt and the Exodus. He reminds them of their past, their history, and the memory of God’s accompaniment all along their journey from Egypt. He recounts the events in Egypt and the Exodus. He evokes the victories over the Amorites, the Moabites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, and others. He repeats God’s reminder that “I delivered them into your hand” (v. 11) and that “I gave you a land whereon you had not laboured, and cities which you didn’t build, and you live in them. You eat of vineyards and olive groves which you didn’t plant” (v. 13). This 'anamnesis' of the past inspires Joshua and his people to realise their call to sincerity and faithfulness. The memory of God’s accompaniment and accomplishments enables them to make an informed choice. The same ‘anamnesis’ serves the twelve. Peter declares on their behalf, “We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God”. The memory of their Christ experience helps them choose not to give up in the moment of crisis.  

2. Desire of the Present:

For the Twelve apostles, this moment of crisis must have been a reminder also of their first ever encounter with Jesus. When he asked them, “What are you looking for?”, they replied with another question, “Where are you staying”? and were told to “come and see”. Ever since, the disciples have been ‘staying’ with Jesus. They had made Jesus’ home their own. They had stayed with him in happy and difficult moments, stayed by his side in times of praise and criticism, stayed with him in his mission through villages and cities. The desire to stay with him had kept them closer to their Rabbi. They now here Jesus saying, “no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father”. They realise that the desire that has so long animated their stay with Jesus is in fact a permanent force that sets in motion the daily search to discover the purpose of their lives. Joshua challenges his people to discover this force when he declares, “decide today whom you will serve”. When crisis challenges our discipleship, Jesus invites us to rekindle the inner desire that drew us to him in the first place, and continues to do so in our current and concrete life realities.

3. Commitment for the future:

Memories from the past and the continuing desire of the present lead Joshua and the twelve alike to commit their future to the Lord. Joshua declares, “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD”. Inspired by their commitment, the people of Israel also declare, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD… Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God”. In the case of the apostles, Peter speaks up again, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”. These are not merely faith formulations or confessions of a formal credo. They are free and conscious ways of committing their future to God’s will. This path to commitment is undertaken not in a private swear-in ceremony but as a family (Joshua and Israel) and as a community (disciples and Church). Crisis can become moments of graces not only to the individuals who go through them but also to the Church, when we support each other and draw inspirations from our memories and desire to rededicate our lives to God’s will and our common mission.

The Eucharist is this space of grace, where our memories, desire, and commitment come together to transform us into integral disciples capable of facing any crisis. The memory of Christ’s sacrifice enables us to experience his true/real presence here and now and further inspires us to commit our lives to his purpose for us. Let our crises become happy pathways to grace.