Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Liturgical readings

1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21
Psalm 16
Galatians 5:1, 13-18
Luke 9:51-62

"Come after Me".

The gospel for Sunday, June 27, continues from last Sunday and is also from the 9th chapter of Luke. The setting of the passage is the journey of Jesus and His apostles to Jerusalem - a journey that would lead them to see Christ's passion, death and resurrection. In this journey to Jerusalem, Jesus and His companions had to pass through a Samaritan town. But since Jews and Samaritans were not in accord with each other, they had to pass through another town. As they moved on, Jesus met some people along the way who expressed their desire to follow Him. Jesus however made them aware of the cost of discipleship: itinerancy, placing primacy of the Kingdom above family, urgency, and moving forward without turning back.

Bible scholar Karris entitles this gospel passage, "The Cost of Following Jesus". He teaches that the focus and central message of this passage is found in the responses of Jesus to those who want to follow Him. How Jesus responded to these people makes us aware of the serious requirements of Christian discipleship. Karris points out that Jesus' answers to the cost of following Him involves a solemn commitment to reorder all our priorities under what is truly essential: 'following Jesus on the way to Jerusalem'. Thus, it involves sharing in the cross of Christ and making the Kingdom of God as our main pursuit ("seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto thee").

Life has its ups and downs. Sometimes everything goes on well and smoothly and we find ourselves secure physically and spiritually. But trial, tribulations, and tests are part of life. And they also come suddenly and sometimes one after the other. If we are resolved to follow Jesus, then we are called to persevere and to pray for the gift of equanimity - a gift which keeps our mind and heart stable in God amidst all the "storms' we experience in the family or in work. Good role models for fidelity and courage to follow Jesus on the way to Jerusalem are St. John and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Both were at the foot of the cross and stayed with Jesus - never faltering in their faith and hope that despite all appearances, Jesus' promises will be fulfilled.

Points for reflection: There are three expressions of discipleship in this Sunday's gospel passage. Where would we find ourselves? Like the one who said, "I will be your follower wherever you go"; or the one who said, "Let me bury my father first"; or the one who said, "Lord, first let me take leave of my people at home". Or would we desire to imitate St. John and the Blessed Mother who truly followed Jesus on the way to Jerusalem and stayed with Him at the foot of the Cross?