From today's first reading:
Joshua addressed all the people:
“If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
decide today whom you will serve,
[…] As for me and my household,
we will serve the LORD.”
From today's Gospel:
Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.”
Slavery or divine sonship, this is the ‘dilemma’ we face. Children of God or slaves to pride, to sensuality, to the fretful selfishness which seems to afflict so many souls.
Love of God marks out the way of truth, justice and goodness. When we make up our minds to tell Our Lord, ‘I put my freedom in your hands,’ we find ourselves loosed from the many chains that were binding us to insignificant things, ridiculous cares or petty ambitions.