Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Are God's demands too great for us?
In today's readings, Elijah and Jesus seem almost insensitive as they call their followers away even from parents and family obligations.
Is Christian discipleship too demanding? Well, let's think about it in terms of this Sunday's Scripture readings.
1 Kings 19:19-21 (first reading)
Going about his usual business, Elisha is confronted by the prophet Elijah, who is prepared to “pass the torch to” (or in Hebrew idiom, "cast his mantle on") Elisha. Seemingly flustered, Elisha asks if he can first say good-bye to his parents. Elijah agrees but is adamant. (The meaning of v. 20 is: "Go and return to me, for I have done something very important to you.") Elisha responds by slaughtering his oxen--a sign that he is "done" with his past life.Luke 9:51-62 (gospel reading)
A similar scenario enfolds in first century Galilee. Eager to become disciples, three would-be followers approach Jesus. The first expresses an unconditional willingness to follow him. The others, however, are concerned about tasks they need to complete first. They want first to tend to their (reasonable) social obligations.
Jesus’s harsh rebuke takes us all by surprise. (And surprise is exactly what the gospel is going for here.) After all, Jesus teaches his followers to love others and to take care of those in need. How can our Lord ask his followers to leave their parents without saying good-bye?
But Jesus not suggesting that we abandon charity. He is simply making a very different point here. He wants to make it crystal clear that discipleship requires a single-minded and single-hearted commitment to Jesus. This Scripture passage does not mean we should focus on Jesus to the neglect of others. Rather, we must embrace Christ as the foundation of our life and incorporate that singular focus into the many opportunities we encounter daily to live in relationship to our families, friends and all others.
So when Jesus calls us, will we lay our excuses aside? Or is "making a living" too time-consuming to "live in the Spirit," as Paul challenges us in the second reading?
The
author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish,
Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the
2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence
Boadt Memorial Medal.
