"THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP"
First Reading : 1 Kings 19: 16,19-21
Second Reading: Galatians 5:1,13-18
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:51-62
*First reading is from the first book of the Kings. This passage gives details about the call of Elisha to be a prophet of the Lord God. Prophet Elijah was asked by the Lord God to appoint Elisha to succeed him. When called, Elisha responded immediately and totally. Elisha bid farewell to his father and mother. Then he slaughtered the oxen he was ploughing with and cooked the meal with the yoke and ate the flesh. Elisha thus left everything he had - all that held him back from being a disciple of Elijah and followed the prophet of the Lord God.
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Galatians. This passage speaks about Christian freedom. Paul explains to the Christians in Galatia that Christian freedom is not for self indulgence but for total self surrender to the love of God. The Apostle warns them that despite their union with Christ and the gifts of the Spirit they have received in the past, they have to struggle against the flesh which will do its utmost to lead them to sin and slavery.
"The cost of discipleship"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. This passage describes how Jesus resolutely took the road to Jerusalem though He knew that a shameful death awaited Him there. He demands the same type of commitment from His followers. On His way to Jerusalem, three persons met Him. To the first person who wanted to follow Him Jesus warned him that there is hardly any place of rest for him if he were to follow Him.
The next person was called by Jesus. But he expressed his inability to follow Jesus because of his religious duty of burying his father who was dead. But Jesus told him "let the dead bury their own dead" - implying that Jesus extends the boundaries of religion beyond dead traditions.
The third person wanted to follow Jesus but before that he wanted to bid farewell to his family members. He too was found wanting because of his attachment to his family.
Hence following Jesus is of such importance that there is no room for any excuses or for compromises with the world or for any kind of half-hearted responses.
"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die" - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
"Christianity without Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ"- Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
First Reading : 1 Kings 19: 16,19-21
Second Reading: Galatians 5:1,13-18
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:51-62
*First reading is from the first book of the Kings. This passage gives details about the call of Elisha to be a prophet of the Lord God. Prophet Elijah was asked by the Lord God to appoint Elisha to succeed him. When called, Elisha responded immediately and totally. Elisha bid farewell to his father and mother. Then he slaughtered the oxen he was ploughing with and cooked the meal with the yoke and ate the flesh. Elisha thus left everything he had - all that held him back from being a disciple of Elijah and followed the prophet of the Lord God.
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Galatians. This passage speaks about Christian freedom. Paul explains to the Christians in Galatia that Christian freedom is not for self indulgence but for total self surrender to the love of God. The Apostle warns them that despite their union with Christ and the gifts of the Spirit they have received in the past, they have to struggle against the flesh which will do its utmost to lead them to sin and slavery.
"The cost of discipleship"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. This passage describes how Jesus resolutely took the road to Jerusalem though He knew that a shameful death awaited Him there. He demands the same type of commitment from His followers. On His way to Jerusalem, three persons met Him. To the first person who wanted to follow Him Jesus warned him that there is hardly any place of rest for him if he were to follow Him.
The next person was called by Jesus. But he expressed his inability to follow Jesus because of his religious duty of burying his father who was dead. But Jesus told him "let the dead bury their own dead" - implying that Jesus extends the boundaries of religion beyond dead traditions.
The third person wanted to follow Jesus but before that he wanted to bid farewell to his family members. He too was found wanting because of his attachment to his family.
Hence following Jesus is of such importance that there is no room for any excuses or for compromises with the world or for any kind of half-hearted responses.
"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die" - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
"Christianity without Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ"- Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
