Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 2022

Title

Obedient unto death

Outline

Following means obedience and formability

If I follow a politician, I do what the politician or the party say I should - I get formed by the party platform

If I sing the song, “I will follow you . . .” then I need to be prepared to endure the hardships that I claim to welcome

If I join the military, the I need to be ready to be formed into a soldier and to follow the directives of the military chain of command

That is what I see in these readings

Elijah is burned out, but he still has work to do, especially find a successor

Now this is God-directed and God-selected work, but he cannot do it sitting on Mt Sinai.

The key thing he does is anoint Elisha who obediently follows him and becomes like him - it is Elisha who will anoint Jehu and Hazael in Israel and Syria respectively.

Paul calls us to freedom, but freedom means following the Spirit

That means that we will resist other types of formation

That means that we will be malleable in the formative winds of the Spirit

It also means that we cannot form ourselves in our way, but only in the Spirit’s way

Jesus forms others to be obedient

First, he is himself obedient, going up to Jerusalem with a determined stride

Second, he calles James and John to be formed to him, not to live their faith like their conception of Elijah or Elisha

Third, he calls his new followers to obedience

One he discourages because he has called himself

Two he forces into a choice between the Jesus-family and their birth family, but does it in two different ways, one with a command and one with a reference to Lot’s wife who looked back. Both need whole hearted obedience and commitment.

Sisters, this week I heard a podcast about why a number of significant Protestant churches and ministries are imploding.

What they have in common is an “outsider mentality” that rejects typical means of formation and an independent vision that draws people to the leader rather than makes them part of the wider church.

What they lack is obedience to anyone and formability by a community

I doubt that anyone here is like that, for you have become insiders and submitted to formation - you may perhaps see that mentality in some postulants and novices, for it is common in the culture

But we should not think that our training in obedience and our formation is over. We are not yet fully molded to the form of the Spirit, we are not yet totally obedient to the Father, we are not yet just like Jesus. And remember that Elijah was at the end of his career - old in their terms - when God gave him that obedience on Mt Sinai.

I do not know about you, but I do know about me - God is not through with me yet; I am still being formed and am still learning obedience. Let us then be prepared to stay malleable in the hands of the master potter, not just for a little bit, but until as we breath our last breath we hear him say, “Ah, finished.”

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 6-26-2022: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

1 Kings 19:16b, 19–21

16 You shall also anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel, and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed you.

19 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 on him. 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please, let me kiss my father and mother good-bye, and I will follow you.” Elijah answered, “Go back! What have I done to you?” 21 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 the people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah to serve him.

Catholic Daily Readings 6-26-2022: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 16:5a

5 LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,

you have made my destiny secure.

PSALM

Psalm 16:1–2, 5, 7–11

1 A miktam of David.

Keep me safe, O God;

in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the LORD,

you are my Lord,

you are my only good.

5 LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,

you have made my destiny secure.

7 I bless the LORD who counsels me;

even at night my heart exhorts me.

8 I keep the LORD always before me;

with him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices;

my body also dwells secure,

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

nor let your devout one see the pit.

11 You will show me the path to life,

abounding joy in your presence,

the delights at your right hand forever.

Catholic Daily Readings 6-26-2022: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Galatians 5:1, 13–18

CHAPTER 5

1 For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

13 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. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

16 I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Catholic Daily Readings 6-26-2022: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

1 Samuel 3:9, John 6:68c

9 So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” When Samuel went to sleep in his place,

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

GOSPEL

Luke 9:51–62

51 When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, 52 and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, 53 but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” 55 Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they journeyed to another village.

57 As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 59 And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “[Lord,] let me go first and bury my father.” 60 But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 62 [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.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 6-26-2022: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading 1 Kings 19:16b, 19–21

Response Psalm 16:5a

Psalm Psalm 16:1–2, 5, 7–11

Second Reading Galatians 5:1, 13–18

Gospel Acclamation 1 Samuel 3:9, John 6:68c

Gospel Luke 9:51–62

GREEN