FIRST READING (Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.)

A reading from the first Book of Kings (19:16b, 19-21)

The Lord said to Elijah: “You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed you.”

Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you.” Elijah answered, “Go back! Have I done anything to you?” Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11)

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord. (Cf. Ps 16:5a)

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you. O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot.” (R)

I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R)

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R)

You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

SECOND READING (You were called for freedom.)

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians (5:1, 13-18)

Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters. But do not use the freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (1 Sm 3:9; Jn 6:68c)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the words of everlasting life. (R)

GOSPEL (He resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem. I will follow you wherever you go.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (9:51-62)

When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” —The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers

Celebrant: Let us make our prayers of intercession as part of our pilgrimage of faith, following Christ to that eternal Jerusalem, our promised inheritance.

READER: For unity and peace within the Catholic Church, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For true liberty among all peoples and nations, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For those who make weak excuses to escape the demands of faith in God that they become more courageous and faithful to the Gospel, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For the grace and courage in young men and women of our parish and diocese to hear the invitation of Christ to FOLLOW him and to take up the call to serve our community as priests and Religious, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For the sick, the dying, and for our faithful departed, for those needing our prayers and those who we remember in a special way today in this Mass, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT: God our Father, never let us look back or hesitate as we journey towards the kingdom. May these prayers for others strengthen us in faith. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. (all) AMEN.