13th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: 1 kgs 19:16b, 19-21 2nd Reading: Galatians 5:1,13-18 Gospel: Luke 9:51-62)
As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. He had sent ahead of him some messengers who entered a Samaritan village to prepare a lodging for him. But the people would not receive him because he was on his way to Jerusalem. Seeing this, James and John, his disciples said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to ashes?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.
As they went on their way, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
To another Jesus said, “Follow me.” But he answered, “Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Another said to him, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” And Jesus said to him, “Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
None of the three persons in today’s Gospel story qualified to follow Jesus. The first volunteer needed motive purification. Jesus had to tell him frankly that he himself had no place to lay his head and rest. The second needed a lecture on promptness and total dedication because he wanted to say goodbye first to his family. Probably he really was a reluctant volunteer planning to use the expected resistance from some family members to withdraw his commitment from Jesus later should the prospect turn unprofitable.
The person who got Jesus’ personal invitation did not qualify either. He had his heart on the details of his father’s burial. Jesus’ disapproval of this legitimate family concern shows that He does not want anything to get in the way when he calls. God’s call is always urgent and demands prompt and radical response. One who drags his feet on the Master’s daytime errand has no right to enjoy an evening walk in the same Master’s vineyard. A positive response made another day will not cure the delay. A “right response at the wrong time” lacks the elements of sacrifice, alacrity and love.
It is said that many are called but few are chosen. But if like the many that are called the chosen few also put up excuses in order to evade answering God’s call, won’t God be left out in the cold? – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM.,MMExM, MAPM>, REB., Email:dan.delosangeles@gmail.com.
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