We are reflecting from today's readings about the freedom of a true disciple. In our first reading, Elisha is called by Elijah to take his place and with all readiness he immediately asked for a goodbye kissed from his parents and followed Elijah with joy. In our second reading, St. Paul says that we are called for freedom and because we have freedom, we should not use it as an opportunity for the flesh but rather to serve one another through love.
In our gospel, we are presented with three types of call-response scenarios. The first one is responding to the call of God with excitement and enthusiasm. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and he knows exactly what's gonna happen to him in Jerusalem. That he will be persecuted there in a shameful way of death. To die on the cross is shameful because it means one did something really wrong in the eyes of both the Jews and the Romans. Such death is the death of Son of Man. He has nowhere to rest his head means absence of any worldly comfort. Following Christ is devoid of any comfort. Remember I mentioned last Sunday about the consequence of our baptism, not an easy life but a life of selflessness.
The second is a perceived call from God but is reluctant about accepting the call because of a personal/familial cause. Often in our experience, when we surely received a call and we don't want to entertain such so we give reasons. We have the call but we are not free to respond favorably to the Lord because we are tied in something else, or we are into someone else, or we want to be somewhere else. Remember that this is what St. Paul is reminding us, to be free from our worldly attachments. And this leads us to the third scenario.
A conditional decision to follow the Lord. Panginoon, gusto ko magbago pero pwede ba, wag muna ngayon? May gusto pa akong gawin kasi. Napatay to tatay ko amo nga ilubong ko anay. Si nanay may sakit alagaan ko anay siya ah. We have all the “good” reasons in the world to excuse us from following him. We have attachments to things that are worldly. Saan ang mas dadayuhin mo, concert ng Parokya ni Edgar, or Bible Study ng Parokya mo?
Brothers and sisters, how free are we in responding to the call of God in our lives? Second question is, how generous are we in giving ourselves to God through others?
In our gospel, we are presented with three types of call-response scenarios. The first one is responding to the call of God with excitement and enthusiasm. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and he knows exactly what's gonna happen to him in Jerusalem. That he will be persecuted there in a shameful way of death. To die on the cross is shameful because it means one did something really wrong in the eyes of both the Jews and the Romans. Such death is the death of Son of Man. He has nowhere to rest his head means absence of any worldly comfort. Following Christ is devoid of any comfort. Remember I mentioned last Sunday about the consequence of our baptism, not an easy life but a life of selflessness.
The second is a perceived call from God but is reluctant about accepting the call because of a personal/familial cause. Often in our experience, when we surely received a call and we don't want to entertain such so we give reasons. We have the call but we are not free to respond favorably to the Lord because we are tied in something else, or we are into someone else, or we want to be somewhere else. Remember that this is what St. Paul is reminding us, to be free from our worldly attachments. And this leads us to the third scenario.
A conditional decision to follow the Lord. Panginoon, gusto ko magbago pero pwede ba, wag muna ngayon? May gusto pa akong gawin kasi. Napatay to tatay ko amo nga ilubong ko anay. Si nanay may sakit alagaan ko anay siya ah. We have all the “good” reasons in the world to excuse us from following him. We have attachments to things that are worldly. Saan ang mas dadayuhin mo, concert ng Parokya ni Edgar, or Bible Study ng Parokya mo?
Brothers and sisters, how free are we in responding to the call of God in our lives? Second question is, how generous are we in giving ourselves to God through others?
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