13th Sunday of Ordinary Time: June 27, 2010

1st Reading, from the 1 Book of Kings, 19: 16b, 19-21
-Elijah on Mount Sinai- & -The Call of Elisha-
It is possible that earlier in life, the majority of us have already faced situations that require us to spring into action at a moment’s notice, without preamble or preparation. Something as simple as choosing a dish from a fast food’s menu, or maybe something more life changing like choosing between the police academy scholarship or the medical school grant. We know as we debate between one and the other, that the opportunity at hand might be a one-time thing. So at the time of getting such call, we hope to have our ears open and to be attentive to the moment when the call rings on our life’s phones.

Today’s first reading brings us to the time when Elijah receives God’s call, instructing him to go to Mount Sinai. Elijah is afraid of God, and though in his heart he wants to serve God, his spirit is weak and, after eating, Elijah falls asleep and when awakened, hides. God comes back to Elijah and sending him in search of Elisha, leaves him with the instructions of instruct Elisha to leave everything behind to follow God.
Elisha himself hears God’s call and his only request is for the opportunity to say goodbye to his parents. Elisha is ready to go. He is focused and understands the importance of Elijah’s request. In Elisha’s heart there is complete certainty of what needs to be done.

God is a very loving father. He is our creator and is aware of our strengths and our weaknesses. When God asks one of his children for something in particular, he knows if the child needs a boost, or maybe even a 2nd call. He knows if the request to say goodbye is coming from the heart or if it is a smoke screen to find an opportunity to avoid complying with his request. As children of God all we have to do is give him our best when our souls hear the celestial ring.

All loving Father, may we be like your son Elisha who heard the call and responded without delay, so we too are able to serve you anytime you call for us.

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2nd Reading, from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians, 5:1, 13-18
-Preserve Your Freedom- & -The Spirit and Human Nature-
During the 70s the younger generations called for freedom from military service. During Dr. King’s time the call was for the black population to be free from society’s shackles and from the banning of seating on the front of the bus. The American Indians fought for their freedom from the white settlers and the white settlers fought for their inalienable right to freedom of religion and the pursuit of happiness.

Humanity has always demanded its right for freedom. For doing as we please feels as natural and normal as breathing oxygen or as the sun setting at night. And yet not always our desires are as pure or as basic as the desires that called for freedom from slavery or from police brutality.

Our heart’s desires can also lead us to trouble.
And so this is how we introduce this fragment of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, when Paul reminds them that they were “called to be free” and that freedom can only be found after surrendering to the Spirit, and not before.

When folks surrender to their human desires, their connection with the Spirit -and thus to God- is lost. Giving in to our human nature drives us away from the Heavenly Kingdom of God.

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The Gospel according to Luke, 9: 51-62
-A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus- & -The Would-Be Followers of Jesus-
If the Country’s President announced that he would be passing through town, I would be the first one to tidy up my house -inside and out-, just in case he decided to stop by and maybe, just maybe, pay this humble citizen a short visit.

I imagine it is the same for others, whether the visitor is a famous movie star, or a NASCAR pilot, or a World Cup footballer. It is very unlikely that anyone would voluntarily become “occupied” in the event of a potential visit of a public person.
And yet, such anomaly occurred when Jesus passed by a Samaritan Village. Its residents did not open their homes to the Son of Man. Jesus, wisely and always forgiving, chose to continue on with his journey rather than confronting the Samaritans and their poor interest in God’s good news.

As Jesus moved on with his mission different people offered to accompany him on his journey. While one man in particular said “I will follow you wherever you go”, another one offered to follow Jesus after he had said “goodbye to (the) family.” Though some of the excuses said to Jesus seemed reasonable ones -bury a dead parent or simple say goodbye to them-, God could tell that they were nothing but excuses masking a false offer to follow him.

When we hear the call of God we fear the destination where the call will leads us to. We fear what the message within the call is about. We know that God’s path involves sacrifice, pain, and suffering. We know it because we are witnesses to what humanity did to Jesus. And Jesus knew it too, the price of his sacrifice, the cost of his Father’s call. But this knowledge did not deter him from answering with an open heart.

May we follow Jesus’ example, and be ready to pick up when we hear God’s call.