Daily Readings - Sun Jun 26 2022
1 Kings
16And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.20And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?"21And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
Galatians
1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."15But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Luke
51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.52And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.53But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"55But he turned and rebuked them.56And they went on to another village.57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."58And 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."59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."60And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."61Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home."62Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and 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.