The Power of a Witness

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, August 25th, 2024:
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

---

Joshua
​24.1-2, 15-17, 18

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.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

If you walked into my parents’ house when I was growing up, you weren’t likely to have any doubt about their religion. Christianity was in the air, and it was definitely on the walls! Images of Jesus and Mary and the saints held places on the walls in between photos of family camping trips and Walmart photoshoots. The artwork you would see immediately inside the front door said in white letters on dark wood, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I believe this firm proclamation graces the walls of many Christian homes. 

I love in today’s first reading how Joshua stands as a true head of his family, standing firm in the worship of the true God, even if no others will follow. A quick examination of conscience we could use here is: “Am I willing to choose the Lord as my only God, even if all others choose the idols?” 

Joshua is so firm in his resolve and poses the question unflinchingly to the other tribes. It is no wonder they also choose that they will serve the Lord, and they even go further than he did by explaining a little more their reasons for trusting God. They recount the miracles and wonders He worked for them, as if to say, “God has been so faithful to us as a Provider. How could we ever be unfaithful to Him?” It’s almost like a foreshadowing of St. Peter’s proclamation in the New Testament, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!” 

I wonder how much Joshua’s confident boldness inspired the “yes” of the other Israelites. When I think of how many times in my life I have been pushed onward by the models of holiness around me – especially people who are willing to go against the grain or get out of their comfort zones for the sake of the Gospel – I think they must have been strengthened by this strong witness of faith to God.

So, whether it is on the wall of your home or it simply resides in your heart and ready on your lips, may this declaration of fidelity and service to the Lord be our anthem, our hope, and our joy!




Sister Angela Burnham

---