Click here to listen to the homily.

Today we hear the farewell address of Joshua, the man who ascended to leadership of Israel following the death of Moses. Last week the lectionary presented the story of Israel’s entry into the Land of Promise.

The Joshua Generation was so unlike their parents. Where the parents (the Wilderness Generation) lacked the commitment to overcome their fear and enter the Promise Land, the children rose up to embrace the Lord’s challenge to enter fully into his blessing.

This week we hear the conclusion of the Book of Joshua. So much has happened since Israel entered the Promised Land.

The Lord had admonished Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous.” Joshua modeled this courage which the people also demonstrated in their conquest of the land.

The story of Joshua is filled with challenges. The prostitute Rahab provides intelligence that helps the Israelites bring down the walled city of Jericho. Joshua demonstrates tactical cunning in the destruction of the city Ai. He makes a strategic alliance with the city of Gebeon.

Throughout the campaign of the conquest for the Land of Promise there is a mixture of God’s providential hand working side by side with the strength and courage of Joshua. Clearly a partnership is at work. God can only deliver on the divine promise with the very human cooperation and full-hearted participation of Israel.

Now, in today’s reading, Joshua has come to the end of his life. The future of Israel will no longer be in his hands. He must yield to the inevitability of time. New leadership must emerge. At some level, the people must take responsibility for their own future – walking hand in hand with the purposes of God.

Joshua stands before the people he has led and gives them the only word of encouragement he knows to give. It is the only challenge that matters. He calls the people together and says:

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

This word has echoed through the ages as the essential challenge to any covenant community. The Joshua Generation prevailed in the conquest of Israel because they were united under the purposes of God.

Would future generations fare as well?