13 Sunday in Ordianry Time (C)
What am I called to accomplish during my life time?
By Fr. Labib Kobti

 In the Bible, 1 Kings 19:16-21, our Sunday first reading, we find the way that was set to continue the tradition of the prophets: "Elijah went over to Elisah and threw his cloak over him. Elisa left the oxen, ran after Elijah" 1 King 19:19-20.

 The cloak was a symbol of this calling to leave everything and follow the mission that Yahweh assigned to Elisa. It was the sign of a vocation, and a personal choice of the Lord: "The Lord said to Elijah: "You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed you" 1 King 19:16. In fact this same cloak made king Ahaziah recognize that the person who talked to his messengers was really the prophet of Yahweh. 2 King 1:8.

 Elijah will allow Elisha to go back and say good-bye to his parents, and then leave the plowing with twelve yoke of oxen and follow his mission as the new prophet of Israel after Elijah.
In today’s Gospel, Luke 9:51-62 we read that Jesus called also a disciple to follow him. The New Testament way is a call, an invitation to follow. We see it in Mat: 4;18-22. And when that disciple asked to bury first his father, Jesus responded "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God" Lk 9:59-60.

 In another term when you are called, when you have a vocation, a personal choice that comes from above; you need not to return back, you need to respond immediately. You need just to leave everything and follow the mission the Lord had given you to accomplish. In fact Jesus will say to him: No one who sets a hand to plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." Lk 9: 61-62

 In today’s Psalm, in fact, we read: "Lord, you will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand for ever" Ps. 16:1. Only God is the real One of our lives, he is the only real shepherd. Psalm 22. Turning back would make us lose the meaning of why we have been chosen by the Lord.

 To be chosen is also to choose to follow the call and accept the many challenges to accomplish the mission given to you by God. Everybody is chosen to do something important in his/her life. A doctor is called to heal people, if a doctor will use his job to make money, he is turning his  back on his mission. A Father, a Mother are called to build a real good family, if they lose their mission in doing all their best for their children, they lose the meaning of being parents.

 Ask yourself, what is my mission?  And put in your mind that as long as you accomplish this your mission you build your life on earth and prepare your eternity in heaven.