13TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME–6/27/10
By Msgr. Eric R. Barr, STL
READINGS: GAL 1: 13-18; LUKE 9: 51-62
I. Carpe Diem: Seize The Day
A. When Jesus says these ominous words: "Whoever puts their hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God", we think, the Lord is just having a bad day. Because we just can’t believe he means this seriously.
B. Problem is this: Jesus has just been approached by people who want to follow him but have excuses why they cannot do that at this time. This Gospel today is a continuation of last week. And remember what the message was last week: Jesus wants all our dedication, love and commitment. He does not want half a loaf. Christianity with compromise, faith with exceptions, Catholicism with a but, is not what Jesus is looking for and that is why he says what he says.
C. Back in the day when one used animals to plow, taking your eye off your oxen meant the animals could go anywhere–if that happened, plowing would be chaos. Jesus uses that image to show what happens if we do not embrace his call wholeheartedly.
D. Chances are, these people who talked to him, went away disappointed–perhaps salvation never came knocking on their door again.
E. That’s why today’s message is this: Keep your eyes on the prize–that would be salvation. Another way of saying this is Carpe Diem–seize the day. Christ has offered us this opportunity, let’s take it.
II. Consequences
A. Otherwise, by compromising or hesitating, we will spend useless time dithering and wasting opportunities to be all that we are called to be.
B. Summertime is a great time for a little rest and relaxation–nothing wrong with that at all. Perhaps, in our prayer this summer, we could spend a little time thinking about whether we are giving Christ everything, or do we look back wondering if we made the right decision to be for Christ. Jesus’ task for us is never easy, and it might sometimes seem that we could have walked other, more easy roads, but if we take our eyes off the prize, the salvation Jesus offers, we may lose it, not because we are inherently evil or malicious, but because we are careless and not committed enough. Let’s ask Christ for the strength to be the Catholic Christians he has called us to be. If we do that, we will be seizing the day, keeping our eyes on the prize, walking straight to heavenly glory.
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