Second Sunday after Trinity
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.””
Summary
Every community has its prophets, those who are called to speak truth to power, those who cannot sit by and witness injustice. It is not easy work. In 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21, when Elisha responds to the call, Elijah ruefully wonders “what have I done to you?”. For Elisha must leave his family, his neighbours and his way of life behind him. Jesus too speaks of the cost of discipleship in Luke 9:51-62.
The challenges encountered by those who follow the prophetic path can lead to anger and bitterness: the disciples respond to their rejection by the Samaritan village by threatening to call down fire just as Elijah had before them (2 Kings 1). But Jesus models a different path: when he is not welcomed, he simply moves on until he finds a place of welcome and there, he leaves a blessing.
Yesterday marked the 56th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots when members of the LGBT community took a stand to protect a place that had welcomed them when they were rejected.
Today we mark Pride Sunday to recognize how hard that community has worked, and still works, to build a world in which all are welcome.
As we strive to leave behind us a church which has not always found it easy to follow Jesus’ ministry of radical inclusion, and to create a place of welcome; we give thanks for the many blessings we have received from members the LGBT community, past and present, who have worked and worshipped alongside us.
FIRST READING
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
So he set out from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He 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?” He returned from following him, 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 he set out and followed Elijah and became his servant.
GOSPEL
Luke 9.51-62
“When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he 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 prepare for his arrival, but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he 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 he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” And 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.” And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
