June 26, 2022

This weekend, we celebrate the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In our first reading from the Book of Kings, we find Elijah the prophet, who is ready to hand on his mantle of leadership to a young man. Elijah has served God as a faithful prophet drawing the people back to God and challenging them to be faithful. His time is coming to an end. Elisha is plowing in his family's field. Elijah as a sign of passing his call to Elisha, throws his cloak over him. We don’t know much about Elisha, yet he is called to do God’s work. At first, he doesn’t seem to be ready or even willing. He asks to speak with his family. Elisha burns the yoke and prepares a feast for the people to eat. He expresses his willingness to give up his way of life and answer the call of God. He becomes the next great prophet for the people of Israel.

St. Paul in his Letter to the Galatians, helps the people to understand what freedom in Jesus Christ means. Paul finds the Law imposed by certain Jewish factions, i.e., circumcision, as yoke of slavery are not required anymore, because the Law of Jesus is now grounded in love of God and neighbor freeing us from slavery and sin. It’s pretty straight forward for Paul to be free and do what Jesus teaches.

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus completes his ministry in Galilee and moves toward his final destiny of Jerusalem. Along the way they were not welcomed in a Samaritan town. The apostles want retribution. Jesus rebukes them and moves on. The apostles are still learning what it meant to be called to serve God and His Church. We too, may sometimes find it hard to understand what our call to service in Christ really means. We must trust in the Lord Jesus and follow him, which means changing our lives and giving us things along the journey of life. If we can model our lives after Jesus and his love, we are on the right path. All this is not easy, but we are to help each other out by our words and actions. May we profess our faith by love we show in our words and actions!

New Priest Arriving Soon: We thank Fr. Chance for his work here at St. Paul Parish and School this last year and a half. We are also preparing for the arrival of a new priest. We are hoping that Fr. George Sejo O.S.B., two other Benedictine priests, and a diocesan priest, all from India will arrive sometime in July. Certainly more information will be given as we hear more from Immigration. Fr. George will be our new Parochial Vicar at St. Paul.
 

~ Msgr. Jaeger