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Welcome everyone to the program IN THE BEGINNING.
I am Fr. Linh.
Today we celebrate the Twenty-first Sunday
in Ordinary Time -- Year B.
in Ordinary Time -- Year B.
Our Gospel passage is from Saint John,
Our Gospel passage is from Saint John,
chapter six, verse sixty to sixty-nine.
There is a very fine illustration
of the power of military discipline
to strengthen a man's nerve and sense of honor
to strengthen a man's nerve and sense of honor
in time of deadly danger.
After the awful explosion,
the battleship Maine was torn
the battleship Maine was torn
and reeling like a drunken man,
and reeling like a drunken man,
enveloped in smoke.
Captain Sigsbee came out of his cabin.
He was met by his orderly officer
who was on guard there.
This man had not moved from his place.
Saluting his commander,
the man said,
"Sir, I have the honor to report
that the ship has been blown up and is sinking."
that the ship has been blown up and is sinking."
After Jesus preached a sermon
on "the bread of life" in a synagogue,
many people, including his disciples,
turned and walked away from him.
Yet, there was Simon Peter,
together with the eleven, remaining in line.
Saluting his master, Peter said:
Saluting his master, Peter said:
"Master, to whom shall we go?
"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."
Peter's response to Jesus gives us a couple of reasons
that show why it is unwise to forsake the Lord.
First, Peter's response "to whom shall we go"
First, Peter's response "to whom shall we go"
indicates that other than serving Christ
there is no other acceptable alternative.
In fact, Peter later preached this message about Jesus
In fact, Peter later preached this message about Jesus
in the book of Acts:
"There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race
by which we are to be saved."
Jesus himself said,
I am the way and the truth and the life.
I am the way and the truth and the life.
I am the way and the truth and the life.
I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."
No one comes to the Father except through me."
Jesus is truly THE way!
Second,
Peter solemnly declared
that Jesus has "the words of eternal life."
Remember that Jesus had just told the multitude, "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
Remember that Jesus had just told the multitude, "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
The words of Christ are the words by which we are cleansed.
The words of Christ are the words by which we are cleansed.
It is his word that will judge us in the last day.
The message is clear for us:
if we want to be cleansed in this life and be ready for the day of judgment,
we need to stay with Jesus Christ who has the words of life.
In addition,
to leave Jesus means to leave the only Christ.
to leave Jesus means to leave the only Christ.
"Christ" means the Messiah or anointed one.
"Christ" means the Messiah or anointed one.
Perhaps, there were other Jewish men
who were also named "Jesus."
But Jesus of Nazareth is the one and only Christ
But Jesus of Nazareth is the one and only Christ
who had been foretold
by the prophets in the Old Testament.
It was God the Father himself
that made Jesus "both Lord and Christ."
Thus, to stop serving Jesus
means to stop serving the One who sent him.
A fourth reason why it is unwise to discontinue following Jesus
is the fact that he is, as Peter confessed,
is the fact that he is, as Peter confessed,
"the Son of the living God."
Jesus and Jesus alone is "the only begotten Son of God."
Jesus and Jesus alone is "the only begotten Son of God."
He truly was God in the flesh.
Therefore,
for one who turns his back on the Son of God
simply means to turn away from the Almighty God who sent him.
Finally,
on the night of his betrayal,
Jesus told his apostles,
"Remain in me, as I remain in you.
"Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own,
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me
and I in him will bear much fruit,
and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing."
because without me you can do nothing."
Jesus' message is plain:
He wants his disciples to remain in him
He wants his disciples to remain in him
in order that they can bear much fruit.
What happens if one of Jesus' followers decides to go his own way
What happens if one of Jesus' followers decides to go his own way
and no longer walk with Christ?
No doubt,
that person will gain nothing
for his or her spiritual life,
for his or her spiritual life,
for Jesus declared, "...
without me you can do nothing."
without me you can do nothing."
We all admit that Satan's temptation is so strong.
But it is also obvious that forsaking Jesus,
the One who died for us, is just not the wise thing to do.
In all circumstances,
the most important thing any of us would ever do
the most important thing any of us would ever do
is to remain faithful to Jesus Christ.
The letter of Hebrews gives us such a confirmative conviction:
The letter of Hebrews gives us such a confirmative conviction:
The letter of Hebrews gives us such a confirmative conviction:
"Let us hold unwaveringly
to our confession that gives us hope,
for Jesus who made the promise is trustworthy."
for Jesus who made the promise is trustworthy."
Let us pray,
"Lord! Help me to be faithful to you in all circumstances of my life."
"Lord! Help me to be faithful to you in all circumstances of my life."
"Lord! Help me to be faithful to you in all circumstances of my life."
One more time,
"Lord! Help me to be faithful to you in all circumstances of my life."
"Lord! Help me to be faithful to you in all circumstances of my life."
Thank you for listening.
Please subscribe to my video and visit my website at FATHERLINH.com.
Please subscribe to my video and visit my website at FATHERLINH.com.
May God bless you.