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Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:16B, 19-21
Psalm: Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11
Second Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-18
Gospel: Luke 9:51-62
Today’s readings, in particular the first reading from 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21, and the Gospel from Luke 9:51-62, sound harsh. But really, at the heart of these readings is the question of attachment. From where do we draw our faith: from our belief in God or from the things of this world? This is a source of great tension in the world. The world, perhaps now more than ever, is so completely intertwined in our lives that it’s difficult to not be “in the world,” so to speak. The lure of social media seems too powerful.
But these readings offer a caution to us all – not just the community of believers. Look, we’re all surrounded by stuff. Indeed, some of our homes are so crammed with stuff that it’s difficult to even walk around. Isn’t it funny how attached we are to things or to our cell phones or to various social media sites? Have you ever had the experience of sitting with someone who was so absorbed with their cell phone that they didn’t know what was going on around them? That can be so frustrating! Sadly, some forms of social media can really bring out the narcissist in people. Some of our family and friends seem obsessed with posting selfies of themselves in various poses or wearing various outfits.
In many ways, people like this, people so absorbed with their stuff, are dead. They’re dead to what’s happening around them. It’s as if they don’t really care – or they might care a little as long as you don’t interfere with their stuff. The minute you cross the line – the minute you ask them to put their cell phone down – well, you might as well have asked them to cut off their arm. Paul describes obsession with the stuff of this world as in today’s second reading from Galatians 5:1, 13-18, as the yoke of slavery.
Paul says we shouldn’t waste our freedom on things that will dull our minds or our senses – and that includes everything from drugs, alcohol and food addictions to binge-watching shows, losing hours to online gaming or social media – you name it! All this stuff belong to the flesh. But we are called to be integrated bodies and souls. So we need to be careful with worldly distractions. Paul reminds us that the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: You shall love your neighbor as yourself, (Galatians 5:14). If we believe that God is love, and if we believe Jesus’ command that we are to love God with every fiber of our being and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, then we can’t allow ourselves to become so distracted with worldly things that we forget to look up and see the people around us, starting with our own family and friends.
We were not created to be alone with our stuff. We were created to be part of the community. We must resist the temptations that pull us out of our community – that try to isolate us, for it is when we feel alone that we are must vulnerable to give in to temptations.
Homework!
- First, try to tally up the time you spend watching shows on TV or over the internet, the time you spend playing any sort of video game, and the time you spend on social media. Can you reduce that number by 5% this week to spend with your family and friends?
- Second, in what ways are you present to the people around you? Try to name a few concrete examples for yourself.
I think by doing our homework, we might shift our time and attention away from the allurements of this world and more toward loving God by loving those around us. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!