Scripture can seem confusing at times. In our readings and the Gospel today we are told not to look back. And, yet, throughout the New Testament we receive references to the Hebrew Scriptures to help us better understand what we are called to do. That is why the Church is blessed with bible scholars who are able to interpret what was written in various foreign languages to clarify our journey to everlasting life.
Given such clarification, however, does not necessarily make it an easier decision. We still need to consider between what we have versus what we are promised. It is in this that calls us to question the depth of our relationship with God. How much do I trust by faith in and love of God? It is this question which we need to answer to comprehend the depth of God’s call to us.
By doing this, we should be able to define what kind of disciple of Jesus we are. It will mean different approaches depending on the individual call we each received at our Baptism. But whatever the call, we need accept it and proclaim the kingdom of God in all aspects of our life. By doing so, it gives our life on earth all its meaning. That’s what it means by not looking back. We need to be one with the Lord in thought, word and deed, as well as faith, hope and love.
In our first reading from the Book of Kings, Elisha who is hand-picked by God to succeed Elijah, accepted his call as a believer in God. He understood that when God, our Creator, calls, there is nothing more important than to answer that call by obeying what one is told. To destroy the means by which he formerly earned his livelihood, he is now utterly free to begin an apprenticeship with Elijah.
St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians uses the very argument of love of one’s neighbors as the purpose of not looking back when God calls us. He defines the difference between what living in the flesh offers versus the spirit of God. The flesh, or world, focuses on one’s mind-set on personal wealth, power and fame. It doesn’t need God to succeed in a world that offers only a temporary life span of personal benefits.
Jesus in St. Luke’s Gospel, as always, clarifies the importance of salvation in obedience to the will of God. We are created by God out of love for a purpose. To understand what that is for us, we need to focus on what Jesus sacrificed for us to have everlasting life: His life by Crucifixion on a cross. That is why we are called to follow Jesus with complete devotion to God’s reign.
God the Father has given us so much time to live on earth before bringing us back home to heaven, if we have lived up to our promise of loving God and all who He has created. We do not know what that means as a measurement of time: Days; Weeks; Months; Years; or less than any of these. What we do know is that it is limited. The Scriptures today are reminding us that if we haven’t dedicated our lives to being a true disciple yet, we need to start immediately rather than take the chance we will miss the opportunity.
God is waiting for our yes to His call, if we haven’t already done so. Let us take some quiet time as soon as possible and in prayer give Jesus the answer to His question about following Him as His disciple, if we haven’t done so. It could mean the difference of dying with no future hope versus living with God forever in heaven.
Reading 1: Genesis 14: 18-20
Reading 2: First Corinthians 11: 23-26
Gospel: Luke 9: 11b-17
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