June 26th - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(1 Kgs 19:16b,19-21; Gal 5:1,13-18: Lk 9:51-62)
In the first reading, Elijah throws his cloak over Elisha as a sign that Elisha will be his apprentice. Elisha readily kisses his former way of life goodbye. By burning the farming equipment and roasting the oxen, Elisha symbolically breaks with his past life. Elijah doesn’t force Elisha to do anything. Instead, Elisha freely chooses his new path. In the Gospel reading, Jesus moves toward the place of his suffering and death. He is rejected by Samaritans, descendants of Abraham whose cultural and religious practices had become very different from that of the Jews. Jesus then continues toward his rejection in Jerusalem, the heart of Judaism. James and John try to recreate the time Elijah called down fire from heaven upon some Samaritans who had come to attack him. By rebuking the two disciples, Jesus again reveals that his mission is about forgiveness, not condemnation. The disciples must learn to temper their judgment with mercy and patience. Also, following Jesus, demands that every other obligation become secondary, even the duty of making funeral arrangements for one’s parents.