Proper 8 -- Year C -- June 30, 2013
Text: I Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Psalm 16:5-11; Galatians 5:1,13-25; Luke 9:51-62
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"In your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore."
In the Name of God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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In church we often hear the word "call."
To those who are inspired to do certain ministries,
we say they need to be certain whether God calls them to go into those ministries.
To the young who are fervent and confused
in pursuing the many things they envision, we offer advices, saying,
"Pray about the decision that you are going to make,
to see if you are called to do so."
The discerning of call is important.
Knowing of our call is helpful
when you are low in spirit.
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Most of the scriptures readings for the twenty-seven Sundays after Pentecost of this year
are chosen for the purpose of teaching.
Among the collects that we say on Sunday
there is one that reads,
"Grant that all who have been reborn
into the fellowship of Christ's Body
may show forth in their lives
what they profess by their faith."
Jesus calls us
to put into practice what He has taught us.
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In today's First Lesson,
Elijah the prophet has a new disciple,
His name is Elisha.
Upon meeting the man of God,
Elisha immediately wanted to follow him.
He then killed his oxen for meat,
and broke the yokes into pieces for fuel.
The oxen and the yokes were all that he had.
With them, he prepared a farewell meal for his family and friends.
After giving up all that he possessed,
he began a new journey following his call.
Was Elisha crazy?
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There must be something that happened in
Elisha's life that made him make such a decision.
Who knows he might have experience great pain or loss in his life,
and hardship might have awaken him to the call
in his heart
saying that he belonged to God,
and that only by offering himself to God
can satisfy his thirst.
Perhaps he had come to believe that God had a purpose for his life,
and that God was calling him to take a new journey.
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In the Gospel of Luke,
Jesus and his disciples traveled toward Jerusalem,
they chose to go through Samaria.
A Jew of Jesus' time would never go into the land of the Samaritans.
Jews and Samaritans abhorred each other.
Jesus wanted to stop in a Samaritans village to rest,
but the Samaritans did not welcome him.
The disciples wanted Jesus to punish the Samaritans,
with fire from heaven to burn them all up,
but Jesus scolded them.
Jesus had taught them to love even the enemies.
Jesus loved the Samaritans.
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On the way, someone came along, asking to follow Jesus.
Jesus said that following him would not bring any worldly gain:
the foxes and the birds would have been better off.
Someone else approached Jesus and asked that he let him
go to say goodbye to his family before following him.
Jesus said no.
"No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for the kingdom of God."
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Twice in today's gospel passage,
Luke says that Jesus sets his face to go to Jerusalem.
Jesus knows that pain and death are awaiting him.
God's purpose must be fulfilled,
and Jesus has determined to let it happen.
God's will is one thing,
but human's determination is equally critical.
Jesus chose to accept his fate,
so that we can be reconciled with God.
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The author of Psalm 16 says that
the LORD is his portion.
Things in this world are transitory.
Instead of seeing success, possession and fame the most important things in life,
he says, "I have set the LORD before me."
The LORD is at the center of his life,
and so he will not be shaken,
no matter how chaotic life can be.
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In this world of chances and changes,
the question for us is
whether we stop and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
No matter what we do in our life,
God cares about who we are.
If we don't listen, we will not hear the call.
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Perhaps the call for us is first to get rid of the things that burden our hearts.
Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, which we also read this morning,
says that what the flesh desires
is opposed to the Spirit,
and what the Spirit desires
is opposed to the flesh.
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Can we follow Paul's advice?
Can we act like Elisha?
Loving the neighbor, for instance,
can be a big challenge.
Are we willing to let go everything
to follow Jesus on a new journey?
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The way of the cross is also the path of life,
and we are called to take it.
The promise of it is joy and resurrection.
Amen.
We have been asked for any