Year C: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading:  19: 16, 19-21

It seems paradoxical that, in the Gospel, Jesus uses setting one’s hand to the plough as an example of what discipleship requires - yet in the First Reading, Elisha’s commitment to discipleship involves his using his own plough to create the fire which cooked the slaughtered oxen. We use the phrase” to burn one’s bridges” as a sign of having no way back: Elisha’s burning of his oxen and plough provide an Old Testament equivalent.

When Elijah put his cloak over Elisha’s shoulders, he was, in effect, commissioning Elisha as disciple - handing on the mantle. Elisha, busy about his daily work is understandably taken aback - there was no way he could have prepared for this when he left home that morning.

This is often the way with a call to discipleship. For some, it is a “once-and-for-all” call to follow - giving up everything to follow Jesus. For most of us, it can be an occurrence within our daily lives when we are suddenly reminded just who we are and what we are about.

It may be to sacrifice time to be with someone who needs to talk. It may be to put a job we are in the middle of to one side in order to help someone else. It may well take us by surprise and we may be tempted to put it off - or ignore it altogether - but somehow we know that this is the Spirit prompting us to live out our discipleship... and we also know that, if we ignore it or put it off, it will not leave our consciences quietly!

What does it mean for me?

When have you felt the prompting of the Spirit to put things to one side to be give time to someone or something? When have you tried to ignore such a prompting? What happened?

         Text © 2006 Wellspring

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