1st Reading – 1 Kings 19:16B, 19-21 16B The LORD said to Elijah: “You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, as prophet to succeed you.”
19 Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was ploughing with twelve yokes 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 goodbye, and I will follow you.” Elijah answered, “Go back! Have I done anything to you?”
21 Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the ploughing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh and gave it to his people to eat. Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 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.” R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
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. R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
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. R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
2nd Reading – Galatians 5:1, 13-18 Brothers and sisters: 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 and sisters. 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 neighbour 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.
Special Healing Prayers to pray for sick family members, friends and loved ones Healing Prayer 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.
Alleluia – 1 Samuel 3:9; John 6:68C R. Alleluia, alleluia. 9 Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; 68C you have the words of everlasting life. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel – Luke 9:51-62 51 When the days for Jesus’ 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.
Send this special Miracle Healing Prayer to your friends and loved ones (WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter) Healing Prayer 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 plough and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER From that moment, after that “firm decision” Jesus aimed straight for his goal and in addition said clearly to the people he met and who asked to follow him what the conditions were: to have no permanent dwelling place; to know how to be detached from human affections and not to give in to nostalgia for the past. Jesus, however, also told his disciples to precede him on the way to Jerusalem and to announce his arrival, but not to impose anything: if the disciples did not find a readiness to welcome him, they should go ahead, they should move on. Jesus never imposes, Jesus is humble, Jesus invites. If you want to, come. The humility of Jesus is like this: he is always inviting but never imposing. (Angelus, 30 June 2013)
-->Jesus, in living out the mission entrusted to him by the Father, knows well that he must face fatigue, rejection, persecution and defeat. A price that, yesterday as today, authentic prophecy is called upon to pay. The harsh rejection, however, does not discourage Jesus, nor does it stop the journey and fruitfulness of his prophetic action. He goes on his way, trusting in the Father's love. Even today, the world needs to see in the Lord's disciples prophets, that is, people who are courageous and persevering in responding to the Christian vocation. People who follow the "thrust" of the Holy Spirit, who sends them to proclaim hope and salvation to the poor and excluded; people who follow the logic of faith and not miraculousism; people dedicated to the service of all, without privileges and exclusions. In short: people who are open to accepting the Father's will in themselves and are committed to faithfully witnessing it to others. (ANGELUS, Feb. 3, 2019)
FAUSTI - Jesus is the definitive tent of God among men, precisely in the solitude of His journey, He is the Word to be heard; precisely because He is the Son of man who gives Himself; is the beauty to be contemplated, precisely as the Face hardened in Mercy. Now Luke calls us to contemplate Him open face, reflecting the Glory of the Lord like a mirror. He, the visible icon of the invisible God, has made Himself a pilgrim on all the roads of the world, to restore to His brethren their faces as children. At the beginning, since there was no other place for Him, He was laid on the wood of a manger of beasts. At the end He will end up as a food for sinners on the wood of the cross, where He will recline His head. Jesus lives in absolute poverty, not only as a pilgrim on his way, but to realize His delivery to the Father and to men. Everything that He has is given by Him, even Himself, because He is gift, a transparency of the Love of the Father For this reason He is small, in need of welcome, without a den and without a nest. Herod, the fox (13:32) has his palace dug into the mountain...the religious man instead places his own security in God, makes his subsistence depend on Him and suspends his nest in heaven like swallows. But it is not sufficient for the believer to have his own treasure with God. He has God as his Treasure. Poverty must be loved as a mother, because it makes us trust in Him alone: it generates His children, making us recognize that He is Father. It is up to Him to propose, and up to us to respond. It is we who follow Him, not Him who follows us. For this reason, the true residence of the apostle is wandering, that makes the whole world his home. Before Him we are called to discern the difference between His and our spirit. He is baptized and immersed in poverty, humiliation and humility; we do everything to emerge through having, power and appearance. The Face of Jesus towards Jerusalem shows us that our intelligence is disturbed.
-->Ignoring the Word of the Son of Man, we lack discernment and militate under the banner of the enemy, obviously...for good! Our will also has the desires and priorities that are opposed to the following of Jesus. Man lives in time and does first what he most cares about: this becomes his shepherd, his guide, his god, what he fears to lose and what he places above all else. That is the reason why in Mt 6:33 it is said: "Seek first the Kingdom of God". Otherwise there is always something else before the Lord and the Lord is no longer the Lord. He may be neglected, but he cannot be second to none. A decision is needed that breaks with the image of the mother (the world of material needs and security), with that of the father (the world of affections, duties and relationships) and with the conditioning of the "I" (security of the furrow and of one's own identity to be preserved): these are poverty, chastity and obedience necessary for following, overcoming the temptation of having, of being in power, of appearing. The common root of all temptations is the attachment to one's own self. Those who overcome this temptation have overcome the first two. That is why Jesus says: "If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself"(9,23). Whoever, despite all tendencies and contrary resistance, puts himself in this position, is "well placed" for the Kingdom. More than the three demands that the Master has towards those who want to follow Him, these are the three gifts that Jesus makes to the disciple, freedom from things, from persons and from the "I", for loving Him with all his heart. Like any gift, it is only for those who desire it. That is why it is good to ask the Lord for them with insistence, despite the resistance against them.
1st Reading – 1 Kings 19:16B, 19-21
RispondiElimina16B The LORD said to Elijah:
“You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, as prophet to succeed you.”
19 Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was ploughing with twelve yokes 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 goodbye, and I will follow you.” Elijah answered, “Go back! Have I done anything to you?”
21 Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the ploughing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh and gave it to his people to eat. Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 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.”
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
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.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
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.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
11 You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
2nd Reading – Galatians 5:1, 13-18
Brothers and sisters:
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 and sisters. 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 neighbour 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.
Special Healing Prayers to pray for sick family members, friends and loved ones
Healing Prayer
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.
Alleluia – 1 Samuel 3:9; John 6:68C
RispondiEliminaR. Alleluia, alleluia.
9 Speak, Lord, your servant is listening;
68C you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel – Luke 9:51-62
51 When the days for Jesus’ 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.
Send this special Miracle Healing Prayer to your friends and loved ones (WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter)
Healing Prayer
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 plough and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
From that moment, after that “firm decision” Jesus aimed straight for his goal and in addition said clearly to the people he met and who asked to follow him what the conditions were: to have no permanent dwelling place; to know how to be detached from human affections and not to give in to nostalgia for the past. Jesus, however, also told his disciples to precede him on the way to Jerusalem and to announce his arrival, but not to impose anything: if the disciples did not find a readiness to welcome him, they should go ahead, they should move on. Jesus never imposes, Jesus is humble, Jesus invites. If you want to, come. The humility of Jesus is like this: he is always inviting but never imposing. (Angelus, 30 June 2013)
-->Jesus, in living out the mission entrusted to him by the Father, knows well that he must face fatigue, rejection, persecution and defeat. A price that, yesterday as today, authentic prophecy is called upon to pay. The harsh rejection, however, does not discourage Jesus, nor does it stop the journey and fruitfulness of his prophetic action. He goes on his way, trusting in the Father's love. Even today, the world needs to see in the Lord's disciples prophets, that is, people who are courageous and persevering in responding to the Christian vocation. People who follow the "thrust" of the Holy Spirit, who sends them to proclaim hope and salvation to the poor and excluded; people who follow the logic of faith and not miraculousism; people dedicated to the service of all, without privileges and exclusions. In short: people who are open to accepting the Father's will in themselves and are committed to faithfully witnessing it to others. (ANGELUS, Feb. 3, 2019)
RispondiEliminaFAUSTI - Jesus is the definitive tent of God among men, precisely in the solitude of His journey, He is the Word to be heard; precisely because He is the Son of man who gives Himself;
is the beauty to be contemplated, precisely as the Face hardened in Mercy.
Now Luke calls us to contemplate Him open face, reflecting the Glory of the Lord like a mirror.
He, the visible icon of the invisible God, has made Himself a pilgrim on all the roads of the world, to restore to His brethren their faces as children.
At the beginning, since there was no other place for Him, He was laid on the wood of a manger of beasts.
At the end He will end up as a food for sinners on the wood of the cross, where He will recline His head.
Jesus lives in absolute poverty, not only as a pilgrim on his way, but to realize His delivery to the Father and to men.
Everything that He has is given by Him, even Himself, because He is gift, a transparency of the Love of the Father
For this reason He is small, in need of welcome, without a den and without a nest.
Herod, the fox (13:32) has his palace dug into the mountain...the religious man instead places his own security in God, makes his subsistence depend on Him and suspends his nest in heaven like swallows.
But it is not sufficient for the believer to have his own treasure with God. He has God as his Treasure.
Poverty must be loved as a mother, because it makes us trust in Him alone: it generates His children, making us recognize that He is Father. It is up to Him to propose, and up to us to respond.
It is we who follow Him, not Him who follows us.
For this reason, the true residence of the apostle is wandering,
that makes the whole world his home.
Before Him we are called to discern the difference between His and our spirit.
He is baptized and immersed in poverty, humiliation and humility; we do everything to emerge through having, power and appearance.
The Face of Jesus towards Jerusalem shows us that our intelligence is disturbed.
-->Ignoring the Word of the Son of Man, we lack discernment and militate under the banner of the enemy, obviously...for good!
RispondiEliminaOur will also has the desires and priorities that are opposed to the following of Jesus.
Man lives in time and does first what he most cares about: this becomes his shepherd, his guide, his god, what he fears to lose and what he places above all else. That is the reason why in Mt 6:33 it is said: "Seek first the Kingdom of God". Otherwise there is always something else before the Lord and the Lord is no longer the Lord. He may be neglected, but he cannot be second to none.
A decision is needed that breaks with the image of the mother (the world of material needs and security), with that of the father (the world of affections, duties and relationships) and with the conditioning of the "I" (security of the furrow and of one's own identity to be preserved): these are poverty, chastity and obedience necessary for following, overcoming the temptation of having, of being in power, of appearing.
The common root of all temptations is the attachment to one's own self.
Those who overcome this temptation have overcome the first two.
That is why Jesus says: "If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself"(9,23).
Whoever, despite all tendencies and contrary resistance, puts himself in this position, is "well placed" for the Kingdom.
More than the three demands that the Master has towards those who want to follow Him, these are the three gifts that Jesus makes to the disciple, freedom from things, from persons and from the "I", for loving Him with all his heart.
Like any gift, it is only for those who desire it.
That is why it is good to ask the Lord for them with insistence, despite the resistance against them.