13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
| First reading |
|---|
| 1 Kings 19:16,19-21 |
The Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go, you are to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat, of Abel Meholah, as prophet to succeed you.’
Leaving there, Elijah came on Elisha son of Shaphat as he was ploughing behind twelve yoke of oxen, he himself being with the twelfth. Elijah passed near to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother, then I will follow you’ he said. Elijah answered, ‘Go, go back; for have I done anything to you?’ Elisha turned away, took the pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He used the plough for cooking the oxen, then gave to his men, who ate. He then rose, and followed Elijah and became his servant.
| Responsorial Psalm |
|---|
| Psalm 15:1-2,5,7-11 |
| Second reading |
|---|
| Galatians 5:1,13-18 |
When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. My brothers, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in works of love, since the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself. If you go snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, you had better watch or you will destroy the whole community.
Let me put it like this: if you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you.
As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.
As they travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’
Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’
Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say goodbye to my people at home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’
By Bernard M. Borja
Do you still remember the last time that you had a "general cleaning" in your house? Except if your house was struck by flood because of a storm, sometimes we can remember these general cleaning significantly because of visitors or who visited us. Example, when a family heard that their long time friends have come home from abroad and will visit their house in the weekend, a general cleaning of the house immediately takes place. Last year, it was evident how our country prepared for the APEC Summit. I'm sure you remember how clean the streets and sidewalks of Roxas Boulevard were during that time.
In our life, we also prepare for something, good or bad, that we know we'll be encountering soon. A student reviews all his lessons to prepare for an exam the next day. A businessman takes a weekend-off to spend time with his family before his scheduled month-long business trip. A church servant frees her schedule every Sunday to be able to serve the people going to church.
But oftentimes, we forget how we should be fulfilling our purpose in life. The purpose in which God has called us. I remember the time when I was invited to serve in our spiritual community. I was hesitant because I was thinking how serving can affect my work schedule. I thought just being in church every Sunday is enough. But I realized that God is calling each and everyone of us for a bigger reason. He is actually calling us to get near to us, and for Him to clean our mess. And for a more important reason, to give joy and meaning to whatever we do in our life. It's just a matter of welcoming Him in our life. When a student knows that an exam is coming soon, he will put aside every personal desires because he wants to focus on studying his lessons. Most of the time, a businessman says "Yes!" first to his client before telling his family about a deal or a business trip.
There are many times we've heard of stories about some people being invited to serve, but has similar reasons like "Let me clean up my schedule first so I can serve fully." And "Let me tell my family first so they would know that I will not be always with them on Sundays." But why are we so hesitant to welcome God in our life if we know that He can really help us clean whatever mess we have in our life?
Oftentimes we take everything in our hands thinking we can do everything on our own. But welcoming God in our life actually means we are letting Him help us for a "general cleaning". Whatever we have, even if our house is not that tidy, God wants to come into our life so that we may live fully with joy.
Prayer
In our life, we also prepare for something, good or bad, that we know we'll be encountering soon. A student reviews all his lessons to prepare for an exam the next day. A businessman takes a weekend-off to spend time with his family before his scheduled month-long business trip. A church servant frees her schedule every Sunday to be able to serve the people going to church.
But oftentimes, we forget how we should be fulfilling our purpose in life. The purpose in which God has called us. I remember the time when I was invited to serve in our spiritual community. I was hesitant because I was thinking how serving can affect my work schedule. I thought just being in church every Sunday is enough. But I realized that God is calling each and everyone of us for a bigger reason. He is actually calling us to get near to us, and for Him to clean our mess. And for a more important reason, to give joy and meaning to whatever we do in our life. It's just a matter of welcoming Him in our life. When a student knows that an exam is coming soon, he will put aside every personal desires because he wants to focus on studying his lessons. Most of the time, a businessman says "Yes!" first to his client before telling his family about a deal or a business trip.
There are many times we've heard of stories about some people being invited to serve, but has similar reasons like "Let me clean up my schedule first so I can serve fully." And "Let me tell my family first so they would know that I will not be always with them on Sundays." But why are we so hesitant to welcome God in our life if we know that He can really help us clean whatever mess we have in our life?
Oftentimes we take everything in our hands thinking we can do everything on our own. But welcoming God in our life actually means we are letting Him help us for a "general cleaning". Whatever we have, even if our house is not that tidy, God wants to come into our life so that we may live fully with joy.
Dear Lord, come into our life and into our hearts that we may find deeper meaning and receive the joy that you have always prepared for us. We ask forgiveness for unwelcoming You in our life through the people we meet and the opportunities that we encounter. May we see You more in each situation and hear Your calling to serve. In Jesus' Name we pray, AMEN.
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