Sunday, June 27, 2010
1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21 Galatians 5:1, 13-18 Luke 9:51-62
The theme of the Old Testament reading and the Gospel have to do with answering God’s call. In the Old Testament, Elisha is called to follow the Prophet Elijah and to be his successor. There is some hesitation at first but then he answers the call and follows.
In the Gospel reading we see Jesus passing through “enemy territory” of Samaria on his way to Jerusalem instead of going around the long way as most Jews would do. He was hoping to find hospitality and probably extending a hand of friendship to people who were considered enemies. Both hospitality and the offer of friendship were refused. But when the disciples want to call divine intervention to blot out the town, Jesus seems to call them to the duty of tolerance. In many ways it may be a lost virtue in our society. Jesus may be asking us to allow other people to think differently than we do and to do so with respect. We might say that we can disagree without being disagreeable.
In the next part of the Gospel, the words of Jesus could seem harsh, but if properly understood, there is a meaning for us. Jesus is extending three different invitations to several people to follow him. The first has an immediate and generous response: “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus offers a serious reminder that He has no home, not even a place to rest his head. Following Jesus is not easy. There can be difficult times if we want to live and love as Jesus loved. Being Christian is not an easy, selfish way of life. Love, kindness and service can be very demanding of us. They require selflessness. We might ask ourselves: “Are we ready?”
The response to the second call to follow Jesus incurs some other apparently harsh words from Jesus. Actually, the man who says he’ll follow after he buries his father, most probably meant “after his father dies.” Jesus is saying that there are crucial moments in life and we can’t procrastinate. We have to act and seize the moment or we may never answer God’s call, whatever it might be.
The third call finds a person with another excuse. Jesus makes a statement about putting one’s hand to the plow and not looking back. Maybe Jesus is telling us not to live in the past, whether we think of the past as “the good old days” or as some very painful times. We are invited to live in the moment and to move forward…not backward. Life is now and in the future. I once read a saying that says: The past is history, the future is mystery and the present is gift. That’s why we call it the present!
The second reading from Galatians is almost a summary of the call of Jesus to every one of us here at St. Mary’s: to live in love and in service with compassion and kindness as St. Marguerite d’Youville did before us. It is possible if we allow the Holy Spirit of Love in our hearts to guide us.
Sr. Suzanne Beaudoin, SSCh
Director of Pastoral Care
