13th Sunday of Ordinary Time
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:16,19-21
The LORD said to Elijah: "You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed you." Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please, let me kiss my father and mother good-bye, and I will follow you." "Go back!" Elijah answered. "Have I done anything to you?" Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.
Second Reading: Galatians 5:1,13-18
Brothers and sisters, for freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:51-62
When the days for Jesus being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." To him Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."
Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
He resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51). Every Jew was supposed to travel to Jerusalem three times a year. At least once a year they travelled to Jerusalem. This was to fulfill the demands of the law. Jesus and his parents followed this very strictly. (Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover Lk 1:41). Going to Jerusalem was to meet the Lord God.
Jesus’ decision to go to Jerusalem was not only to fulfill the demands of the rule but also to fulfill the will of the God for him. Will of God for him was to die in the hands of the leaders for the salvation of the people. Jesus accepted this plan willingly and he exhorted his disciples also to do the same. They should also reach their own Jerusalem which God has prepared for them.
Jesus’ decision to go to Jerusalem was not only to fulfill the demands of the rule but also to fulfill the will of the God for him. Will of God for him was to die in the hands of the leaders for the salvation of the people. Jesus accepted this plan willingly and he exhorted his disciples also to do the same. They should also reach their own Jerusalem which God has prepared for them.
