Daily Readings - Sun Jun 26 2022

¹⁶And you shall anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi, as king over Israel. But Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who is from Abelmeholah, you shall anoint to be a prophet in your place¹⁹Therefore, Elijah, setting out from there, found Elisha, the son of Shaphat, plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. And he himself was one of those who were plowing with the twelve yoke of oxen. And when Elijah had gone to him, he cast his mantle over him²⁰And immediately, leaving behind the oxen, he ran after Elijah. And he said, "I beg you to let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him: "Go, and turn back. For what was mine to do, I have done concerning you.²¹Then, turning back from him, he took a pair of oxen, and he slew them. And he cooked the flesh with the plow of the oxen. And he gave it to the people, and they ate. And rising up, he went and followed Elijah, and he ministered to him

Galatians

Chapter 5

¹Stand firm, and do not be willing to be again held by the yoke of servitude¹³For you, brothers, have been called to liberty. Only you must not make liberty into an occasion for the flesh, but instead, serve one another through the charity of the Spirit¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled by one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.¹⁵But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you are not consumed by one another¹⁶So then, I say: Walk in the spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh¹⁷For the flesh desires against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. And since these are against one another, you may not do whatever you want¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law

Luke

Chapter 9

⁵¹Now it happened that, while the days of his dissipation were being completed, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem⁵²And he sent messengers before his face. And going on, they entered into a city of the Samaritans, to prepare for him⁵³And they would not receive him, because his face was going toward Jerusalem⁵⁴And when his disciples, James and John, had seen this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to call for fire to descend from heaven and consume them?⁵⁵And turning, he rebuked them, saying: "Do you not know of whose spirit you are⁵⁶The Son of man came, not to destroy lives, but to save them." And they went into another town⁵⁷And it happened that, as they were walking along the way, someone said to him, "I will follow you, wherever you will go.⁵⁸Jesus said to him: "Foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests. But the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.⁵⁹Then he said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.⁶⁰And Jesus said to him: "Let the dead bury their dead. But you go and announce the kingdom of God.⁶¹And another said: "I will follow you, Lord. But permit me first to explain this to those of my house.⁶²Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow, and then looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons on commitment, trust, and living according to God's will. The first reading from 1 Kings illustrates Elisha's immediate and complete response to Elijah's call. Elisha's actions—slaughtering his oxen and distributing the meat—symbolize his unwavering trust in God's plan, leaving behind worldly concerns to follow his prophetic calling. This story reminds us that true commitment to God requires sacrifice and trust. The second reading from Galatians balances freedom in Christ with the responsibility to serve others. Paul warns against using liberty for selfish desires, emphasizing that our freedom should manifest in loving service to others. He highlights the internal struggle between flesh and spirit, urging us to be led by the Spirit to fulfill God's will. This teaches us that living a spiritual life is not about personal gain but about selfless love and service. In the Gospel, Jesus's journey to Jerusalem and his encounters with potential followers challenge us to prioritize God's kingdom above all else. Jesus's rebuke of his disciples' vengeance and his radical call to discipleship emphasize that following Him requires letting go of worldly attachments. These readings collectively call us to trust in God's plan, live selflessly, and commit fully to our faith, just as Elisha, Paul, and the disciples were called to do. May we embrace this call with courage and faith, trusting in God's providence as we journey through life.