Dear sisters and brothers, If you feel you are called to priestly and religious life, better respond now. Don't delay. Don't enter when you are already sickly and old. Fr. Cielo

1. WWelcome to our Bible Study
13th
Sunday in Ordinary Time C
26 June 2016
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st
reading: 1 Kings 19:16.19-21
 16 The Lord said to Elijah, “You shall anoint Jehu,
son of Nimshi, as king of Israel, and Elisha, son of
Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed you.
 19 Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of
Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of
oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over
to him and threw his cloak over him.
 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,
"Please, let me kiss my father and mother good-bye,
and I will follow you." "Go back!" Elijah answered.
"Have I done anything to you?" 21 Elisha left him
and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he
used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their
flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left
and followed Elijah as his attendant.
The focus is on discipleship.

3. 1st
reading: 1 Kings 19,16.19-21
Mission of Elijah: to anoint Jehu and Elisha
 16 The Lord said to Elijah, “You shall anoint Jehu, son of
Nimshi, as king of Israel, and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-
meholah, as prophet to succeed you.
“Anointing” of Elisha
 19 Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he
was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the
twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.
Elisha bids good bye to loved ones and follows Elijah
 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please, let me
kiss my father and mother good-bye, and I will follow you." "Go
back!" Elijah answered. "Have I done anything to you?" 21
Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them;
he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and
gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as
his attendant.
A simple outline!

4. Textual Context of 1 Kings 19:16.19-21
 Elijah flees from Jezebel (19,1-10)
 Elijah meets God at Horeb (19,11-18)
 Elisha becomes Elijah’s Disciple (19,19-21)
 Ahab’s Wars with the Arameans (20,1-12)
 Prophetic Opposition to Ahab (20,13-22)

5. 1st
reading: 1 Kings 19,16.19-21
Mission of Elijah: to anoint Jehu and Elisha
 16 The Lord said to Elijah, “You shall
anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of
Israel, and Elisha, son of Shaphat of
Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed
you.
Anointing of Elisha
 19 Elijah set out, and came upon
Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was
plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he
was following the twelfth. Elijah went
over to him and threw his cloak over
him.
Elisha bids good bye to loved ones and
follows Elijah
 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah,
and said, "Please, let me kiss my father
and mother good-bye, and I will follow
you." "Go back!" Elijah answered.
"Have I done anything to you?" 21
Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of
oxen, slaughtered them; he used the
plowing equipment for fuel to boil their
flesh, and gave it to his people to eat.
Then he left and followed Elijah as his
attendant.
Commentary
 In v.16, God commands the prophet
Elijah to anoint Jehu (841-815 BC) as
king and Elisha as prophet.
 Elisha will succeed Elijah.
 In v.19, Elijah obeys God, with the
following actions:
 He sets out
 He comes upon Elisha
 He throws his cloak over him (symbolic
of transfer of prophetic power).
 Notice that Elijah does this ritual in the
context of Elisha’s plowing the field.
 Elisha must be a strong man, a farmer.
 In v.20, Elisha leaves the oxen and asks
permission to bid good bye to his loved
ones. (has affection)
 In v.21, Elisha slaughters the oxen and
cooks them for the people to eat and he
follows Elijah. (a sign of total commitment to
the new task).

6. Reflections on the 1st
reading
 God can call you at the peak of your career.
 To respond to his call, you must be prepared to give up
whatever hinders you from doing your new assignment.
 You cannot really answer the call of God if you still keep
going back to your former work, associating with your
old colleagues (or loved ones).
 You have to radically say “Good Bye” to all of them.
 And closely learn the trade of your new assignment, by
following your master.
 For you are being called to do greater things or
something very different.

7. Resp. Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
 R. (cf. 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
 1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
 2 I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.
 5 O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
 you it is who hold fast my lot.”
 7 I bless the LORD who counsels me;
 even in the night my heart exhorts me.
 8 I set the LORD ever before me;
 with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
 my body, too, abides in confidence
 10 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
 nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
 11 You will show me the path to life,
 fullness of joys in your presence,
 the delights at your right hand forever.

8. Resp. Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
 R. (cf. 5a) You are my inheritance, O
Lord.
 1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take
refuge; 2 I say to the LORD, “My Lord
are you. 5 O LORD, my allotted portion
and my cup, you it is who hold fast my
lot.”
 7 I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
 8 I set the LORD ever before me; with
him at my right hand I shall not be
disturbed.
 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my
soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in
confidence 10 because you will not
abandon my soul to the netherworld,
 nor will you suffer your faithful one to
undergo corruption.
 11 You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence, the
delights at your right hand forever.
Commentary
 In v.1, the psalmist expresses
his trust in the Lord as his
refuge.
 In v.2, the psalmist affirms that
the Lord (the God of the Israelites)
is his God.
 The psalmist’s inheritance is
nothing more, or no one else
but the Lord.
 In v.7, the psalmist gives a
proper response to God who
counsels him: he blesses
(praises, gives thanks) the Lord.
 V.8 expresses the trust and
confidence of the psalmist in
God.

9. Resp. Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
 R. (cf. 5a) You are my inheritance, O
Lord.
 1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take
refuge; 2 I say to the LORD, “My Lord
are you. 5 O LORD, my allotted portion
and my cup, you it is who hold fast my
lot.”
 7 I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me. 8
I set the LORD ever before me; with him
at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my
soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in
confidence 10 because you will not
abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to
undergo corruption.
 11 You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence, the
delights at your right hand forever.
 Vv.9-10 express how happy the
psalmist is because God is his
protector.
 In v.11, the psalmist believes
that God will do the following
favors to him:
 To show path to life
 To show fullness of joy
 To show the delights of his
right hand (power).

10. Reflections on the Psalm
 Again, we must be like the psalmist who prays
the psalm.
 We, Christians, can do this by identifying with
him and appropriating his prayer.
 We too bless and praise God.
 As a people, we have to put our security in
God’s power, not in money, material things and
human beings.
 We are better off when we are with God.

11. 2nd
reading: Galatians 5:1.13-18
 1 For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do
not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
 13 For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do
not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh;
rather, serve one another through love. 14 For the
whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, "You
shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you go
on biting and devouring one another, beware that you
are not consumed by one another. 16 I say, then: live
by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the
desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh has desires
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other, so that you may not
do what you want. 18 But if you are guided by the
Spirit, you are not under the law.
The focus is on the Christian freedom.

12. 2nd
reading: Galatians 5,1.13-18
Freedom vs. slavery
 1 For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again
to the yoke of slavery. 13 For you were called for freedom, brothers.
Warning against abuse of freedom
 But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh;
True use of freedom
 rather, serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled
in one statement, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.“
What abusers of freedom do
 15 But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you
are not consumed by one another.
Spirit vs. flesh/law
 16 I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the
desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and
the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you
may not do what you want. 18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you
are not under the law.
A simple outline!

13. Textual Context of Galatians 5:1.13-18
 The Nature of Christian Freedom (5,2-15)
 The Works of the Flesh (5,16-21)
 The Fruit of the Spirit (5,22-26)
 Bear One Another’s Burdens (6,1-10)
 Final Admonitions and Benediction (6,11-18)

14. 2nd
reading: Galatians 5,1.13-18
Freedom vs. slavery
 1 For freedom Christ set
us free; so stand firm and
do not submit again to
the yoke of slavery. 13
For you were called for
freedom, brothers.
Warning against abuse of
freedom
 But do not use this
freedom as an
opportunity for the flesh;
True use of freedom
 rather, serve one another
through love. 14 For the
whole law is fulfilled in
one statement, namely,
"You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.“
Commentary
 In this letter to the Galatians, Paul at length
discusses the freedom Christ gives to the
believers. He considers the teaching of the
rabbis (works of the law) as yoke of
slavery.
 Paul’s teaching is: In Christ, there is
freedom. In the law, there is no freedom.
There is no freedom if one is living in the
flesh.
 In v.1, Paul says Christ leads us to
freedom. Christians are free from the law
and there should be no backsliding to the
law (yoke of slavery).
 V.13 says Christian vocation is to be free.
 Now freedom is not free to contradict itself.
It is not licentiousness (living in the flesh).
Freedom should not be abused.
 Rather freedom should lead us to serve
and love one another. (v.14)

15. 2nd
reading: Galatians 5,1.13-18
What abusers of freedom do
 15 But if you go on
biting and devouring
one another, beware
that you are not
consumed by one
another.
Spirit vs. flesh/law
 16 I say, then: live by the
Spirit and you will
certainly not gratify the
desire of the flesh. 17
For the flesh has desires
against the Spirit, and
the Spirit against the
flesh; these are opposed
to each other, so that
you may not do what
you want. 18 But if you
are guided by the Spirit,
you are not under the
Commentary (con’t)
 In v.15, Paul specifies what is to live in
the flesh: biting and devouring (taking
advantage of each other, acting like savage
beasts).
 Vv.16-18 introduce a new expression:
living by the Spirit. It is contrasted with
the desire of the flesh (lust, this time it has
nothing with the law).
 Spirit and flesh stand in opposition to
each other.
 Living in the Spirit (guided by the Spirit)
is a sign of not living under the law.
(v.18)
 In this reading, there is an interplay (or
mix up) of the important opposing
concepts: slavery / freedom, Spirit /
flesh
 What is clear here is Christ, freedom,
Spirit, service, and love go together.
 The law, yoke of slavery, flesh, abuse of
freedom, biting, devouring, and desire
of the flesh go together. These should
be rejected.

16. Reflections on the 2nd
reading
 If we live in Christ, we live in freedom.
 But freedom is not license to do whatever we want. It is
not licentiousness.
 It is freedom to serve and love one another.
 Freedom is life-giving, life-enhancing.
 You do not lose anything when you live in freedom. You do not
destroy anything if you live in freedom.
 If you cannot love, cannot do anything good and
meaningful and you find it hard to give yourself to
others, you are not living in freedom.
 You are a slave of sin.
 You don’t have Christ in you.
 If you have freedom, you can do good things for God
and for fellow men and women.

17. Gospel reading: Luke 9:51-62
 51 When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he
resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, 52 and he sent
messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a
Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, 53 but
they would not welcome him because the destination of his
journey was Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and
John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down
fire from heaven to consume them?" 55 Jesus turned and
rebuked them, 56 and they journeyed to another village. 57
As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to
him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus answered
him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but
the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." 59 And to
another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "(Lord,) let me
go first and bury my father." 60 But he answered him, "Let the
dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom
of God." 61 And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first
let me say farewell to my family at home." 62 (To him) Jesus
said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what
was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."
The focus is on Christian discipleship (following Jesus).

18. Gospel reading: Luke 9:51-62
Context of Journey
 51 When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely
determined to journey to Jerusalem, 52 and he sent messengers ahead of
him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception
there, 53 but they would not welcome him because the destination of his
journey was Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this they
asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume
them?" 55 Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they journeyed to another
village.
The Cost of Discipleship
 57 As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will
follow you wherever you go."
 58 Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have
nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
 59 And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "(Lord,) let me go first
and bury my father."
 60 But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and
proclaim the kingdom of God."
 61 And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my
family at home."
 62 (To him) Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to
what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."
A simple
outline!

19. Gospel reading: Luke 9,51-62
Context of Journey
 51 When the days for his
being taken up were
fulfilled, he resolutely
determined to journey to
Jerusalem, 52 and he
sent messengers ahead
of him. On the way they
entered a Samaritan
village to prepare for his
reception there, 53 but
they would not welcome
him because the
destination of his journey
was Jerusalem. 54
When the disciples
James and John saw this
they asked, "Lord, do you
want us to call down fire
from heaven to consume
them?" 55 Jesus turned
and rebuked them, 56
and they journeyed to
another village.
Commentary
 Our text describes the beginning of Jesus’ journey to
Jerusalem. Luke has a very long journey narrative of
Jesus compared with Matthew and Mark.
 In v.51 “for his being taken up” means his ascension.
Jesus’ ascension into heaven begins with his journey
to Jerusalem (where he will die).
 Notice important words: “he resolutely determined to
journey to Jerusalem.” (No one can stop / distract him.)
 In v.52, Jesus sends advance party to prepare the
people to receive him.
 In v.53, the Samaritans do not accept him. Reason:
he is going to Jerusalem. They have prejudice against the
Jews.
 There is a historical reason of the animosity between
the Samaritans and the Jews.
 In v.54, the named disciples, James and John, want
to invoke punishment upon Samaria. (These 2
followers show violent feelings, want to replicate Sodom
and Gomorrah).
 In v.55, Jesus rebukes them; they go another village.
(Here it is presumed they are accepted. Not all Samaritan
villages are against Jesus).

20. Gospel reading: Luke 9,51-62
The Cost of Discipleship
 57 As they were proceeding on
their journey someone said to him,
"I will follow you wherever you go."
 58 Jesus answered him,
"Foxes have dens and birds of
the sky have nests, but the
Son of Man has nowhere to
rest his head."
 59 And to another he said, "Follow
me." But he replied, "(Lord,) let me
go first and bury my father."
 60 But he answered him, "Let
the dead bury their dead. But
you, go and proclaim the
kingdom of God."
 61 And another said, "I will follow
you, Lord, but first let me say
farewell to my family at home."
 62 (To him) Jesus said, "No
one who sets a hand to the
plow and looks to what was left
behind is fit for the kingdom of
God."
 Vv.57-62 describes what happens on the way.
Three “disciples-to-be” encounter with Jesus.
 The first and the third volunteer to follow, saying
“I will follow you.”
 The second is invited.
The cost of discipleship
 The first candidate volunteers to go with him
wherever he goes. He does not seem to know
the implications of what he is volunteering for.
 Jesus answers with the 1st
cost of discipleship:
 nowhere to lay one’s head, no comfort, no
security of family and loved ones, exposure to
bad elements and hostility, coming out into the
open, vulnerable. vv.57-58
 The second candidate is invited, but wants to
spend more time with the dead.
 Jesus’ answer indicates the second cost of
discipleship.
 To follow him, Jesus does not allow delay.
Mission is urgent. Jesus is on the go. You may
not find him anymore, after you bury your dead.
vv.59-60
 The third candidate volunteers but he wants to
say good bye to his loved ones.
 Jesus’ answer indicates that in discipleship,
there is no looking back. Vv.61-62

21. Gospel reading: Luke 9,51-62
Context of Journey
 51 When the days for his being taken up
were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to
journey to Jerusalem, 52 and he sent
messengers ahead of him. On the way they
entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his
reception there, 53 but they would not
welcome him because the destination of his
journey was Jerusalem. 54 When the
disciples James and John saw this they
asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire
from heaven to consume them?" 55 Jesus
turned and rebuked them, 56 and they
journeyed to another village.
The Cost of Discipleship
 57 As they were proceeding on their journey
someone said to him, "I will follow you
wherever you go."
 58 Jesus answered him, "Foxes have
dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to
rest his head."
 59 And to another he said, "Follow me." But
he replied, "(Lord,) let me go first and bury
my father."
 60 But he answered him, "Let the
dead bury their dead. But you, go and
proclaim the kingdom of God."
 61 And another said, "I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at
home."
 62 (To him) Jesus said, "No one who
sets a hand to the plow and looks to
what was left behind is fit for the
kingdom of God."
 Jesus is very strict here on the urgency of
mission.
 When Elisha wanted to bid good bye to his
father and mother, Elijah allowed him.
 For Jesus, following him entails immediate
action, no dilly dallying.
 No delaying tactics, to be fit for the kingdom
of God.

22. Reflections on the gospel reading
 To be a disciple, one must journey with Jesus (hindi
magpapaiwan).
 Jesus allows no delay because he is always on the go.
 Christian discipleship is not living a comfortable life. It is an
itinerant life, trusting in the goodness of the Lord and the people.
 To be a disciple, one must be prepared to accept rejection.
 A disciple is a pilgrim who is not punitive and does not spouse
violence, when he meets opposition. He does not pretend to be
powerful.
 Discipleship entails radicalism: total disconnection from your loved
ones even the dead ones.
 To be fit for the kingdom of God (to be a disciple), Jesus is against
attachments that will delay or never allow you to follow Jesus.

23. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading is the call of Elisha as disciple of Elijah.
 The psalm talks about a full-blast disciple of God,
always praising and trusting in him.
 The second reading is about living in freedom. This is
the essence of Christian discipleship.
 The gospel reading is about the cost of discipleship.

24. How to develop your sharing / homilyHow to develop your sharing / homily
 Relate how you became a disciple / student of a
famous person. He/She may be a
 good priest, good bishop, astute businessman, good
motivational speaker, good professor, good
preacher, etc.
 What did you do to become his/her good
disciple?
 I read his/her notes/books. I listened to his/her talks.
I attended his seminars / classes. I bought his/her
books/CDs. I follow him/her in the Facebook.

25.  We want to follow a great teacher that
should inspire us / give us some light and
meaning to our lives and help do greater
things.
 Yet we should also know how to be a
good follower / disciple.
 The liturgical for this Sunday is about
discipleship.

26.  The first reading teaches us how to be a good disciple.
 We give up our job, our work, our family and loved ones
and follow a teacher.
 Elisha gave up everything and followed Elijah. Elisha
learned how to prophesy through Elijah.
 The second reading also teaches us how to be good
disciples.
 We must live in freedom.
 Discipleship is living in Christ.
 It is not living in the flesh (material and sinful world), but
living in the Spirit.

27.  The gospel reading tells us the cost of
discipleship.
 The disciple must give up his/her comfort zone.
 The disciple must not delay in responding.
 He/she must give up his/her delaying tactics. (He/She
will overcome by old age or death.)
 He/she must give priority to the mission or else
he/she will be left behind.
 The disciple must always be consistent and decisive.
 If he/she says yes to the Lord, he/she should not
take his/her word back. The disciple must give up
his/her personal agenda in favor of Jesus.
 Read the life of St. Francis of Assisi, a disciple of Christ
par excellence.

28. What keeps us from being true disciples of Jesus?
 Refusal to give up (modify) our routine and lifestyle, and
learn from the Master. (1st
reading)
 Being distracted by the false priorities and values, the
false teachings on freedom. (2nd
reading)
 Too little knowledge about what it entails to be a
disciple of Jesus (sacrifice).
 Discipleship is not a life of comfort. (gospel)
 Too much attachment to his/her own time / place /
name / title / phase / attitude / character / values.
(gospel).

29. We are not true disciples if we are
 not mentored by assigned / authorized teachers,
 not attending ongoing formation,
 not wanting to be disturbed in our routines,
 not living in Christ and in the Spirit but in sin and in our
un-freedoms,
 insisting on our convenience and attachments
 claiming we are volunteers only (therefore, they should not
demand anything more what we are willing to give)
 and bargaining to lessen the burden.
We are not actually journeying with Jesus. We are just
opportunists (taking a free ride) and false disciples.

30.  The eucharist is the food of the true disciples of
Christ.
 Having been detached from all sorts of things,
we journey with Christ to participate in the holy
Eucharist, like the apostles at the Last Supper.
 In the eucharist, we celebrate our freedom as
children of God and disciples of Christ.

31. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Inability to follow a credible
person
 Competes with a leader,
grandstands
 Attachment to things and
persons
 Short lived commitments
 Slow to respond, always late
 False member, false disciple
 Cannot commit at all, no
freedom
 Undetermined follower
 Immature faith
 Detachment from things and
loved ones
 Able to commit
 On time, has sense of time
 Able to journey and
accompany a leader
 Willing to learn from a leader,
open, humble
 Living evangelical vows
 Enjoys freedom to respond
 In full communion with the
leader, with the Church

32. Suggested Songs
 Follow Christ
 Long Road to Freedom
 Come Build My Church
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZugkzkgjDk
 Francis’ Dream
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBe4GJV_5TU
 Come To Me
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID90ryPYU00

33.  Dear sisters and brothers,
 If you feel you are called to priestly and
religious life, better respond now. Don't
delay. Don't enter when you are already
sickly and old.
 Fr. Cielo