At Shechem Joshua told the Israelites to choose whether they would serve the Lord or the gods whom their ancestors had worshipped. Joshua and his household chose to serve the Lord. As the people recounted how the Lord had brought them out of Egypt and protected them and accompanied them, they also decided to serve the Lord. It was a renewal of the Covenant of God with the Israelites. Let us remember God's goodness to us as a grateful heart is at the centre of a strong faith.

The Ephesians were encouraged to treat each other well out of respect for Christ. Wives were to be subject to their husbands in the same way they are to the Lord and husbands were to love their wives even as Christ loved the Church. This reminds us of Jesus' words in Luke 6.31, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Marriage relationships are covenantal.

Jesus had been speaking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. He realized that many of his disciples found this very difficult; however, he insisted that these words were "spirit and truth". As many disciples left him, Jesus asked the Twelve what they wanted to do. Peter spoke for the group when he affirmed that Jesus was "the Holy One of God." There was nowhere else to turn other than to Jesus! This is still true today.