Daily Readings - Sun Jun 26 2022
1 Kings
16And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.19So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.20And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?21And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
Galatians
1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Luke
51And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,52And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.53And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.54And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.57And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking 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.