THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Also Read: Mass Readings for 26 June 2022
First Reading: First Kings 19: 16b, 19-21
Elijah chooses Elisha as his successor, based on instructions from God. (1Kings19:16) Elisha in turn gives up everything to follow him.
Do we know whom to follow? Are we ready to give Him priority? Can we start by giving God the first hour of our day?
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 16: 1-2 and 5, 7-11
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
7I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. 8 I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Second Reading: Galatians 5: 1, 13-18
1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
If Love is the summation of all commandments for us, then we must release all self-righteous thoughts!
15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
We will be consumed by jealousy, in the race to prove ourselves right or superior over others. Therefore we will destroy ourselves first.
18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
When we yield to the Holy Spirit whispering in our ears, our minds are not ravaged by vengeful intentions. We are truly set free of the need to avenge any hurt we may endure. We are assured of God’s justice and mercy in our lives always.
Amen!
Gospel: Luke 9: 51-62
The Cost of Discipleship!
58 “the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
To the first would-be disciple, Christ responds with a warning.
60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
The next person He calls, agrees but asks for time to complete certain responsibilities! Do we sometimes preach to spiritually dead people? Maybe we need to search out the “Alive” ones?
62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Do we behave like this hesitant disciple sometimes? Are we looking over our shoulders and getting distracted with the “If only” or “What ifs”?
But we must remind ourselves: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Amen!
