Recall His Goodness

A Reflection on the First Reading for August 22nd, 2021:
​Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

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​Joshua
24.1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God.

And Joshua said to all the people, “If you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
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My journey into faith began somewhat unenviably. My twenties brought me to the Catholic church and all the beauty and promise she had to offer. Unfortunately, my own disposition, life experiences, and insecurities collided with wounds unintentionally inflicted by persons, for whom to me, represented the Church.

The latter was not a great start for someone lacking maturity in their God-given identity. Reflection has since revealed how these factors impacted my journey. A prominent theme that developed was difficulty believing that God loved me and that He could be trusted. 

Unsurprisingly, this became an obstacle and affected me for some time. But grace abounds, and I was never abandoned. I have since been able to look back and see how God was working in my life at that time, despite myself. From this revelation, I began to see God’s steadfastness. In this revelation, I have been able to start proclaiming, a little more confidently each day, that the Lord God is the Lord of my life. 

Today, both Joshua and the people of Israel lean heavily into recollection of the Lord’s goodness. In verses not included here, Joshua takes great pains to remind the people how the Lord has been faithful to them throughout their history. Then, when Joshua challenges the people of Israel to choose if they are willing to serve the Lord, they too, respond in hindsight, recalling the evidence of God's faithfulness to them and their ancestors:

“It is the Lord their God who brought us [...] out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went [...] therefore, we will also serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

There is value in this type of recollection. For the people of Israel, recollection is a portal to praise, and from praise comes proclamation: Look at what the Lord has done for us — He is our God! With this in mind they will move forward, rightly and well, free from any bondage that might prevent them from living their lives in His service.

Recalling the work of the Lord over time can remind us that God has been with us the whole way, even when we didn’t know Him, or even when things seemed a mess. Personally, the Lord wanted to reveal His tender hand over my life. Seeing this continues to unbind me from what keeps me from embracing Him freely and willingly. Doing so also helps as a reminder of His care when life gets tough.

Last week, we celebrated the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the gospel reading of Mary’s Magnificat. In praise, Mary herself has recollected the works of the Lord in her life:


He has looked with favor...

He has done great things...

He has shown strength…

He has lifted up...

He has…

He has…

He has. 


What goodness has the Lord done in your life? Ask Him about the work that you may not have noticed. Or, consider what work He is doing now to free you from what keeps you from embracing Him wholly.

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​Michelynne Gomez
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