Naresh Namindla csc –
Readings: 1Kgs 19: 16, 19-21; Gal 5: 1, 13-18; Lk 9: 51-62
Today’s readings are inviting us to be radical disciples of Christ. To be a radical disciple of Christ is a gift from God. As today’s second reading says, Christ set us free, so we have the gift of choice either to be radical disciples of Christ or be under the slavery of sin. St. Paul urges us to use the freedom to serve God rather than worldly things.
In today’s first reading, Elisha in his freedom used the gift of God to embrace radical discipleship and followed Prophet Elijah. Elisha sacrificed all his oxen to follow God.
On the other hand, a couple of disciples wanted to follow Christ but were reluctant to follow him fully due to their personal reasons. In our day-to-day lives, our personal reasons and queries play a vital role in living a worthy life of Christian. To some people, personal queries and reasons help find worthiness in following and believing Christian faith.
To some others, those personal queries and reasons make them to go away from following a Christian faith. Today the liturgy invites such people to be firm in their faith like Elisha in the first reading. Though Elisha had property and oxen, he sacrificed them and followed him.
Likewise, Jesus calls us to offer our personal queries and reasons to God and follow him like Elisha followed to become radical disciples of Christ.