Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 19:16, 19-21 (JB)

A reading from the first book of the Kings

Elisha rose and followed Elijah and became his servant.

The Lord said to Elijah: ‘Go, you are to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat, of Abel Meholah, as prophet to succeed you.’

Leaving there, Elijah came to Elisha son of Shaphat as he was ploughing behind twelve yoke of oxen, he himself being with the twelfth. Elijah passed near to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother, then I will follow you’ he said. Elijah answered, ‘Go, go back; for have I done anything to you?’ Elisha turned away, took the pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He used the plough for cooking the oxen, then gave to his men, who ate. He then rose, and followed Elijah and became his servant.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Kings 19:16, 19-21 (NRSV)

A reading from the first book of Kings

The Lord spoke to the prophet Elijah and said,

“You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat,

as prophet in your place.”

So Elijah set out from there, and found Elisha, who was ploughing.

There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him,

and he was with the twelfth.

Elijah passed by Elisha and threw his mantle over him.

Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,

“Let me kiss my father and my mother,

and then I will follow you.”

Then Elijah said to him,

“Go back again; for what have I done to you?”

Elisha returned from following Elijah,

took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them;

using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh,

and gave it to the people, and they ate.

Then Elisha set out and followed Elijah,

and became his servant.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 15:1-2, 5, 7-11 (JB)

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.

I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.’

O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;

it is you yourself who are my prize. R.

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,

who even at night directs my heart.

I keep the Lord ever in my sight:

since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm. R.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;

even my body shall rest in safety.

For you will not leave my soul among the dead,

nor let your beloved know decay. R.

You will show me the path of life,

the fullness of joy in your presence,

at your right hand happiness for ever. R.

Galatians 5:1, 13-18 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Galatians

My brothers, you were called to freedom.

When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

My brothers, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in works of love, since the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself. If you go snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, you had better watch or you will destroy the whole community.

Let me put it like this: if you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Galatians 5:1, 13-18 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Galatians

For freedom Christ has set us free.

Stand firm, therefore,

and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;

only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,

but through love become slaves to one another.

For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment,

“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

If, however, you bite and devour one another,

take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Live by the Spirit, I say,

and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.

For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit,

and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh;

for these are opposed to each other,

to prevent you from doing what you want.

But if you are led by the Spirit,

you are not subject to the law.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Samuel 3:9; John 6:68 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, O Lord, your servant is listening;

you have the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia!

1 Samuel 3:9; John 6:68 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, O Lord, your servant is listening;

you have the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia!

Luke 9:51-62 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Jesus resolutely set his face towards Jerusalem. I will follow you wherever you will go.

As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.

As they travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me,’ replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury the dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’

Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say good-bye to my people at home.’ Jesus said to him. ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 9:51-62 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

When the days drew near for him to be taken up,

Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem.

And he sent messengers ahead of him.

On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans

to make ready for Jesus;

but the Samaritans did not receive him,

because his face was set toward Jerusalem.

When his disciples James and John saw it, they said,

“Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven

and consume them?”

But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

Then they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him,

“I will follow you wherever you go.”

And Jesus said to him,

“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests;

but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

To another Jesus said,

“Follow me.”

But he replied,

“Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

But Jesus said to him,

“Let the dead bury their own dead;

but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Another said,

“I will follow you, Lord;

but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”

Jesus said to him,

“No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back

is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.