Sunday, August 22, 2027 · Year B
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Master, to whom shall we go?
At Shechem, Joshua challenges Israel to choose whom they will serve, and they answer, “We will serve the Lord.” Many disciples leave Jesus after His teaching on eating His flesh. He asks the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Peter answers, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Mass Readings
- First Reading Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b
- Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21
- Second Reading Ephesians 5:21-32
- Gospel John 6:60-69
Open the Mass Readings on USCCB.org →
First Reading Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b
Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem: “Decide today whom you will serve. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” The people answer that they will never forsake the Lord who brought them out of Egypt.
Psalm Psalm 34
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Second Reading Ephesians 5:21-32
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and handed Himself over for her. The two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
Gospel John 6:60-69
Many disciples say, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” and no longer walk with Jesus. He asks the Twelve whether they also want to leave. Simon Peter answers, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
Step Into the Story
Shechem sits in the pass between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim, where Abraham built his first altar in Canaan. Near the end of his life, probably in the twelfth century B.C., Joshua gathers the tribes there and makes them choose: the Lord, or the gods beyond the River and the gods of Canaan. “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Ephesians, likely from the early 60s, takes the household codes of the ancient world and begins them with mutual submission.
- 12th c. B.C.Joshua gathers Israel at Shechem
- 4 B.C.Antipas rules Galilee
- 14 A.D.Tiberius becomes emperor
- c. 20 A.D.Antipas founds Tiberias
- This week’s scene: c. 29 A.D.Many disciples walk away
Stand outside the synagogue at Capernaum as the meeting breaks up, in the year 29 A.D. by most reckonings. Jesus has just said that His flesh is true food and His blood true drink. Inside, the arguing goes on. Outside, the lane fills with men who have followed Him for months, and they are shaking their heads: “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”
Watch them go. One turns down toward the lake, another up the road toward the hills, and they do not look back. Hear their footsteps fade. Many disciples leave for good today. Soon only a handful are left standing in the lane: the Twelve, and you among them. Stand there with them, in the sudden quiet, as Jesus turns to face you all.
Encounter the Lord
Stand in the synagogue as the crowd drifts out, shaking their heads. “Eat His flesh? This is too much.” The room empties. Jesus turns to the Twelve: “Do you also want to leave?”
Jesus does not soften His teaching on the Eucharist to keep His followers. He lets them go. Faith sometimes means staying when we do not fully understand. Peter does not claim to grasp everything; he simply knows there is nowhere else to go. Paul says marriage is a great mystery that points to Christ’s love for the Church. Like Joshua, every Christian household has to decide: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Is there a teaching of the Church you find hard? This week, read what the Catechism says about it and bring your questions honestly to Jesus. Then pray Peter’s words.
Know Your Faith
- 127·the Church as the Bride of Christ
- 260·why God made man and woman for each other
- 263·why marriage is indissoluble
The Church, Bride of Christ
The unity of Christ and the Church is expressed by the image of bridegroom and bride. Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her; she is the spotless bride of the spotless Lamb (CCC 796).
God’s Faithful Love
God’s fidelity is unfailing. His word is the Amen in which we can place complete trust (CCC 1062-1065). The Eucharist is the sacrament of His covenant love (CCC 1612).
Marriage in the Lord
The marriage of baptized persons is a sacrament of the New Covenant, a sign of Christ’s union with the Church (CCC 1612-1617). Spouses give themselves totally and faithfully to each other (CCC 2360-2365).
Choosing to Serve the Lord
Faith is a personal adherence of the whole person to God who reveals Himself (CCC 176). Before the hard sayings of Jesus, faith trusts the One who speaks (CCC 156-157).
Key Takeaways
- Scripture
- Doctrine
- Sacraments
- Christian Life
- Sacraments: Some of Jesus’ teachings, like the Eucharist, are hard, and faith means trusting Him.
- Doctrine: Jesus alone has the words of eternal life.
- Sacraments: Christian marriage is a sign of Christ’s faithful love for the Church.
- Christian Life: Every person and family must choose whether to serve the Lord.
Test Your Knowledge
True or false? Tap your answer.
Joshua said, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
True.
All of Jesus’ disciples accepted His teaching on eating His flesh.
False: many left and no longer walked with Him.
Peter said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
True.
Jesus softened His teaching to keep His disciples.
False: He asked the Twelve if they also wanted to leave.
Paul compares marriage to the relationship between Christ and the Church.
True.
Ephesians tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church.
True.
The Catechism calls the Church the bride of Christ.
True.
Shechem was where Joshua renewed the covenant.
True.
Sacramental marriage is a sign of Christ’s union with the Church.
True.
Faith requires that we understand every mystery fully before believing.
False: faith trusts God who reveals, even before full understanding, CCC 156-157.
Answers: 1 T · 2 F (many left and no longer walked with Him) · 3 T · 4 F (He asked the Twelve if they also wanted to leave) · 5 T · 6 T · 7 T · 8 T · 9 T · 10 F (faith trusts God who reveals, even before full understanding, CCC 156-157)
Journal Prompts
Which teaching of Jesus or the Church do I find hardest to accept?
When have I been tempted to walk away? What kept me?
What would it mean for my household to serve the Lord more fully?
How does my marriage or family reflect Christ’s love?
Talk to God
Lord Jesus, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life. When Your teaching is hard, keep me close to You. Make my home a place where we serve the Lord, and strengthen our marriages. Amen.