Mass Readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
- First Reading – 1 Kings 19:16B, 19-21: "Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you."
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 16: "You are my inheritance, O Lord."
- Second Reading – Galatians 5:1, 13-18: "For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery."
- Gospel - Luke 9:51-62: "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."
Themes for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
The readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C encourage us to be committed disciples. In the first reading Elisha decides to follow Elijah. In the second reading Paul tells us we must stand firm. In the gospel, we learn that discipleship will bring many hardships.
- My commitment to Jesus
- Obstacles to discipleship
- Attachments and letting go
- Living in the past
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.
Resources for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Litany of the Call to Discipleship
This Litany of the Call to Discipleship asks our Lord to give us the grace to be His disciples. It focuses on various people in the gospel and asks for the grace to answer His call as they did.
Prayer to the God of Goodness
This prayer to the God of Goodness is a prayer of praise. We must remember all of the blessings our heavenly Father has poured out on us. This prayer is based on Psalm 16, which is the responsorial psalm for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.
Where Should We Go? A Lesson Plan on Following Jesus
Where should we go? Should we follow the Lord or rely on ourselves? This lesson plan on following Jesus looks at what it means to walk by faith.
Homilies and Reflections for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Following Jesus Comes First
From Bishop Robert Barron. If Jesus is unambiguously the center of your life, then everything else has to find its place in relation to him. If the good things of the world become more important than following him, then something has gone off-kilter.
Walking Truly and Completely with Him
Also from Bishop Robert Barron. In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus clarifies that all worldly goods find their value in relation to Him. If we believe Jesus is the only Son of God, we must place our grudges, personal desires, and even our most sacred worldly obligations aside in order to walk truly and completely with Him.
Taking the Call
From Scott Hahn. In this week’s first reading, Elijah’s disciple is allowed to kiss his parents goodbye before setting out to follow the prophet’s call. But we are called to follow a greater than Elijah, this week’s Liturgy wants us to know. Jesus calls us to make His faith our own—to abide in confidence that He will not abandon us, that He will show us “the path to life,” leading us to the fullness of joy in His presence forever.
There’s Nothing Ordinary About Ordinary Time
Scripture readings teach us that there is nothing ordinary about Ordinary Time. Aware of God’s presence and continuing love, the Church does not let a day go by without counting it as belonging to God.
Taken Up
Today's Gospel reading begins a long section unique to Luke's Gospel. Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem, which will end with his ministry in Jerusalem. We read that Jesus' days for being “taken up” were fulfilled. The Greek word that Luke uses for “taken up” is the same word he uses to describe the Ascension. Continue reading.
Gospel Freedom
Also from Bishop Barron. Elisha accepts the mantle of prophecy, simply because God commands him, and he leaves everything behind. Jesus tells a man to follow him, even if that means not attending his own father’s funeral. In the determination of the meaning of your life, what, or better who, finally matters?
More Thoughts for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Doing God's will requires some determination. We will be asked to let go of things we are attached to. We might have to leave behind family and familiar places. But the path of discipleship is never lonely, for Jesus is always walking with us.
Letting Go
Elijah is calling Elisha to follow after him, living the life of a prophet. By putting his cloak on Elisha, Elijah is indicating that he intends for this young man to succeed him in his ministry. Elisha wants some time to let go of the attachments of his current life as a farmer. But when Elijah says that this is not an option if he wants to follow, then Elisha simply walks away from it all.
This gospel begins by telling us that Jesus is "resolutely" headed to Jerusalem. He knows this is a terrible, difficult journey. But he does not look back or turn aside. He leaves the familiarity of Galilee and the favorable response he received there. It is a difficult road to travel for him and his disciples. He also expects his followers to let go of their attachments. The call of God comes before everything else.
We do not know where we might be called to go in our own journey. There will be twists and turns and challenging conditions. But we must not look back and long for the past. In dying to ourselves and letting go, we will eventually find new life.
Passing the Mantle
These readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C also are about passing the torch. Eventually, for one reason or another, our time in a particular role or ministry comes to an end. We must prepare others to take up where we leave off. A good leader always finds and trains a successor.
If we do not teach others how to do what we do, we also risk the sin of thinking that nobody else can do what we do. This is just pride. Identifying other possible leaders and sharing our knowledge and skills help us remember that everything does not depend upon us. Ministry is a community effort.
Reflection Questions for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
- What am I too attached to?
- What have I had to let go of to follow Jesus?
- How can I offer others encouragement on the journey?
Quotes and Social Media Graphics for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
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.
Galatians 5:16-17
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