Someone has said that if we are not truly shocked by some of the sayings in the gospels then we are probably not reading them carefully enough. I think today's gospel might be one of those times. Consider this: "Let the dead bury their dead."
Jesus said some radical, shocking things indeed, especially about following him. He said that he came to bring not peace but a sword, and that he would be the occasion of division in families (cf. Matt. 10-34-36). Jesus also said that anyone who prefers a family member over him is not worthy of him (cf. Matt. 10:37). This provides some context for the saying in today's gospel reading. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He must come before any human relationship. If he calls, it's best not to put him off!
1 KINGS
In our first reading, Elijah was told by the Lord to anoint Elisha as his successor in the prophetic ministry. Elijah finds Elisha plowing a field and proceeds to throw his cloak (his prophetic anointing) over him.
Elisha, however, wants to say goodbye to his father and mother before leaving to follow Elijah, who reacts to this request with great indignation! But Elisha does leave in order to slaughter the oxen he had been using for plowing, and then proceeds to give it to his people to eat. "Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant."
All this is meant to bring out the importance of the Lord's specific call and the radical nature of obedience to that call.
The Responsorial, Psalm 16, could be Elisha's, and our, declaration that the Lord is the disciple's inheritance. (I can't help but think of the song, "For You Are My God," by John Foley, SJ, which is based on Psalm 16 - probably because it was played at our wedding.)
GOSPEL
Jesus nicknamed James and John "Sons of Thunder," and in today's gospel we can see why. They were ready to call down fire from heaven to obliterate the Samaritans who would not receive Jesus. Their proposal was, of course, rejected by Jesus.
As today's gospel reading begins, it almost sounds like we are back in Lent with Holy Week approaching: "When the days for Jesus' being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem."
In this selection, we see different responses to Jesus. The Samaritans don't receive him at all. Someone else wants to follow him, but Jesus warns him that "the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
Jesus calls another man to follow him but this one wants to wait until he can bury his father. To which Jesus replies, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Another man wants to follow the Lord but, like Elisha in the first reading, he first wants to say his goodbyes to his family at home. Jesus says to him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." The message is, "Don't look back!"
GALATIANS
The second reading is from Galatians and has to do with freedom. St. Paul emphasizes that true freedom is not just freedom from the externals of the law. Rather, it is freedom for love and service to one's neighbor. "For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
"I'VE COME TOO FAR TO LOOK BACK"
This is the title of a gospel song I have come to appreciate more and more since I first heard it. It talks about the futility of looking back once we have come so far in following the Lord. There is always the temptation to look back - either when one first decides to follow Jesus or even years afterwards.
There is another old song called, "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus." One of the verses says: "The cross before me, the world behind me; no turning back, no turning back."
So, let us not look back and, with the help of the Lord's grace, let us never turn back!"