July 2, 2017 — Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
2 KGS 4: 8-11, 14-16A; PS 89: 2-3, 16-19; ROM 6: 3-4, 8-11; MT 10: 37-42
Our First Reading from Second Kings, chapter 4, features Elisha. You may recall that Elisha was plowing in a field when the prophet Elijah called him to follow him. Something happened at that moment and Elisha chose to do it, which is what brought him to this point in his journey (as reported in today’s Holy Scripture). We often address the fact that each of us is called as well. Our calling, like Elisha’s and like those of Christ’s Apostles, is really not that much different.
Christ said, “Follow Me,” and the Apostles basically dropped everything, ceased pursuing what they were doing — in some cases with good jobs and vocations — and followed Christ. We are called to follow the Lord from the moment of our Baptism, but how many of us actually take that calling seriously?
It is not just a question of hearing the call; the key is whether we are listening for it? It is there, but we must be aware of it in order to respond.
Elisha’s call and our calls are signs of God at work. God has a plan for each of us. We are the means by which God’s work is continued in our parishes, in our communities, and in the Church. God’s ministry on earth will be carried out and accomplished. None of us is the entire ministry; we can all be replaced. However, by the same token in God’s eyes we are absolutely necessary. Are we ready to respond? Are we ready to be disciples of the Lord?
