＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

1K 19:16b, 19-21

You shall also anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king over Israel; and Elisha, son of Shaphat, from Abel Meholah, you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

So Elijah left.  He found Elisha, son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah and said,“Let me say goodbye to my father and mother; then I will follow you.”   

Elijah said to him, “Return if you want, don’t worry about what I did.” However, Elisha turned back, took the yoke of oxen and slew them. He roasted their meat on the pieces of the yoke and gave it to his people who ate of it. After this, he followed Elijah and began ministering to him.

 

＊＊＊2nd Reading ＊＊＊

 Gal 5:1, 13-18

 Christ freed us to make us really free.  So remain firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

You, brothers and sisters, were called to enjoy freedom; I am not speaking of that freedom which gives free rein to the desires of the flesh,     but of that which makes you slaves of one another through love.For the whole Law is summed up in this sentence: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and tear each other to pieces,     be careful lest you all perish.

Therefore I say to you: walk according to the Spirit and  do not give way to the desires of the flesh!  For the desires of the flesh war against the spirit, and the desires of the spirit are opposed to the flesh. Both are in conflict with each other,      so that you cannot do everything you would like. But when you are led by the Spirit you are not under the Law.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

 Lk 9:51-62

 As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. He sent ahead of him some messengers, who entered a Samaritan village to prepare a lodging for him. But the people would not receive him, because he was on his way to Jerusalem. Seeing this, James and John, his disciples, said,“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to ashes?”Jesus turned and rebuked them,and they went on to another village. As they went on their way, a man said to him,“I will follow you wherever you go.

”Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests;   but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”To another Jesus said, “Follow me!”But he answered, “Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father.”And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead;  as for you, leave them, and proclaim the kingdom of God.”Another said to him, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”And Jesus said to him, “Whoever has put his hand to the plow, and looks back,     is not fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

Reflection gospel：

READ: It is not enough to promise to follow Christ. One must know and be ready for the consequences. Christ does not promise comfort to his followers, just as he does not find comfort in his ministry. Elisha takes the challenge to succeed the prophetic ministry of Elijah. We cannot follow our master if we have no freedom.

REFLECT: Think about yourself as a follower of Christ. What kind of follower are you? Are you trying to grasp Christ’s frame of mind? If you think everything is alright with you, there are no hassles when you practice your religion, think again. Something might be wrong. You must experience discomfort if you follow Christ.

PRAY: Lord, help me to follow you. purify my motivation in trying to share in your ministry. Help me to become a true follower of yours. Set me free from all that prevent me from giving myself totally to you.

ACT: Study the gospels to know the complete picture of a true disciple. Listen also to the spiritual leaders who have been recognized as following Christ closely. Seek those who pray deeply and who respect the teachings of the Church and her ordained ministers.