Homilies & Reflections
Thirteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C, By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp
First Reading: I Kings 19:16b.19-21/Responsorial Ps.: Psalm 16:1-2a.5.7-8.9-10.11 (R. cf. 5a) Second Reading: Galatians 5:1.13-18/Gosp. Accl.: I Sam. 3:9c/Jn. 6:68a/Gospel: Luke 9:51-62
Theme: God Has An Invitation For All
There is a story of an incident which happened during the wedding ceremony of a very young and famous celebrity-couple. Apparently, their marriage attracted many people, known and unknown, friends and foes, from far and near. However, the beautiful wedding nearly turned into a messy altercation when the time came for refreshments. Those who had come without any invitation cards were prevented from entering the banquet hall, and this was the straw which broke the camel’s back. Hungry and thirsty as a result of the solemnization which took a lot of time, the people gave vent to their anger in fulfilment of the dictum: “a hungry man is an angry man.” The organisers were strict in demanding invitation cards from people. Those who had them got easy pass whereas those who had none were disallowed to their utter shame and embarrassment.
Today, our readings introduce us to the invitation of God. Unlike human beings do, the invitation of God excludes no one! All are called in whatever state of life. All that God demands from us is our response, for vocation is not just a call, but a response too! Sometimes, our response to God may be a definitive yes or a definitive no or simply a complete indifference. When we give God our fiat, our yes, we find fulfilment, contentment and peace. On the other hand, when we refuse to accept God’s invitation, life becomes meaningless, insipid and full of emptiness and pain.
We may be quick to ask the nature of God’s call. It may be an invitation to repent or accomplish a task for either a period of time or lasting a life-long. Be that as it may, every day, God calls us to a close relationship with him – an intimate union founded on freewill and based on love for God and neighbour. It is in the context of the aforementioned, that, Elisha makes a life-long commitment in the first reading, at a crucial time in his life, and, in an era of royal persecution by Ahab and Jezebel. Yet, moved by a deep love, he travels the difficult path of sacrifice, self-donation and commitment in order to fulfil his God-given vocation as a prophet of God. Called to be a prophet, God did not promise him an easy road, and neither was he pampered by the people for whose cause he served.
Particularly, Elisha did something that should not escape our minds. We read that when Elijah invited Elisha to follow him, Elisha left everything behind after the initial hesitation due to family ties. He said: “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you…And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the yokes of oxen, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah, and ministered to him” (I Kgs. 19:20, 21). Elisha had learnt to make God his aim and preoccupation as the Psalmist captures vividly in his song when he chants: “It is you, O lord, who are my portion … you yourself who secure my lot” (Ps. 16:5). When we fail to detach ourselves from other things except God, we become unfit for God’s kingdom. We begin to pursue shadows instead of the reality, the ephemeral instead of the eternal! Hence, Jesus tells us in the Gospel: “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk. 9:62).
To live one’s vocation faithfully, we must reiterate once again, that, one must be free from all forms of attachment so as to live in the power of the Spirit of God. In other words, there is need to detach oneself from all else in order to attach oneself with God alone. Many times, attachment to self and the world prevents us from seeing God’s glory. Hence, St. Paul addresses this issue when he categorically tells the Galatians: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh…” (Gal. 5:16-17). Many spiritual writers agree that the greatest enemy to spiritual growth and development is not external but internal; it is the self. When we put the self before all else, we refuse God’s invitation. Considering God and others is the love-ethic which leads to glory.
At this juncture, let us take some more examples from the Gospel pericope. A man decides to follow Jesus by his own volition. He says: “I will follow you wherever you go” (Lk. 9:57). To his request, Jesus replies: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head” (Lk. 9:58). Here, in no uncertain terms, Jesus demands that all would-be followers of his should count the cost of discipleship which usually entails commitment, single-mindedness and self-sacrifice. On the other hand, Jesus himself deliberately throws a two[1]word invitation, to a second aspirant, saying: “Follow me” (Lk. 9:59). Surprisingly, unlike the first aspirant, this second would-be disciple gives an excuse which actually, is a sacred filial duty. In spite of this, Jesus teaches that such duties are secondary in comparison with proclaiming God’s kingdom. Still, a third aspirant simply tells Jesus “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home” (Lk. 9:61). Indeed, God and his work must be our topmost priority!
Beloved in Christ, we realise that vocation can be diverse in terms of what God entrusts to us, our inner motivations, dispositions and interests. Be that as it may, we have a common vocation to have an intimate relationship with God and to live a life of holiness (cf. Eph. 1:4). Like Prophet Elijah, God has also called us to know and communicate his mind to others as his spokespersons. We do so through authentic and selfless preaching and teaching, by word and way of life – whether as clergy or lay, poor or rich, male or female, city-dwellers or rural folks. It is about true witnessing!
In whatever state of life we find ourselves, we can learn to be the mouthpiece of God. As married couples, our vocation calls us to teach our children the way of God and when they grow they will never depart from it (cf. Prov. 22:6). As public and private sector workers or as entrepreneurs, as well as, professionals in the formal and informal areas, God has given us the invitation to proclaim his kingdom by word and deed. We are to ask ourselves whether we are discharging our Christian duties with commitment, zest and faithfulness. Are we sincerely and truthfully living for Jesus? Is our light shining in government as politicians and voters? Are teachers fulfilling their obligations as educators? Are health professionals attending to minute details as regards the health of patients? What about traders in markets and business centres? Do the businesses we do and the items we sell contribute to the overall development of the human person and our countries? Does God trust us?
Dearly beloved, we have another chance to examine our Christian lives with the eyes of God via the guidance of God’s word. Let us show gratitude to God for the invitation he gives us borne out of his love and eternal plan for us. He means good for us, and when we discover his will for us by introspection, inspiration, counselling and our natural endowment, we must respond immediately freely, lovingly and faithfully. Through the examples and lessons in today’s readings, God shows us the way and reminds each one of us of our vocations. It is by doing his will we find true peace. No one will stand by the door of God’s banquet hall to prevent us from entering it except ourselves! We already have the invitation card to enter there. Let us use it and we shall find peace and joy. May the Lord help us to say yes to him! Happy Sunday and a blessed new week! God bless us! Remember: #God-Has-An-Invitation-For-All#