No one who sets a hand to the plow

30 JUNE (Lk 9,51-62)

In the Old Testament fire descended onto the earth to kill. The fire descended on Sodom and Gomorrah. It also descends on some men for their destruction at the command of Elijah, and also to burn the offering made by him in the challenge against false prophets of Baal. In the house of Job, a divine fire came down from Heaven, to bring ruin and destruction. Fire was the Lord’s powerful, invincible weapon. Some passages of Ancient Scripture reveal us this truth about the fire that falls from heaven and destroys.

At the same time the Lord rained down sulphurous fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah (from the Lord out of heaven) (Gen 19, 24). Now the people complained in the hearing of the Lord; and when he heard it his wrath flared up so that the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp (Nm 11, 1). But when the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died out (Nm 11, 2). Hence that place was called Taberah, because there the fire of the Lord burned among them (Nm 11, 3). And fire from the Lord came forth which consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense (Nm 16, 35). Give us two young bulls. Let them choose one, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood, but start no fire. I shall prepare the other and place it on the wood, but shall start no fire (1Kings 18, 23). You shall call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The God who answers with fire is God.” All the people answered, “Agreed!” (1Kings 18, 24). Elijah then said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one young bull and prepare it first, for there are more of you. Call upon your gods, but do not start the fire.” (1Kings 18, 25). The Lord’s fire came down and consumed the holocaust, wood, stones, and dust, and it lapped up the water in the trench (1Kings 18, 38). “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered the captain, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men (2Kings 1, 10). “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered him, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And divine fire came down from heaven, consuming him and his fifty men (2Kings 1, 12). Already fire has come down from heaven, consuming two captains with their companies of fifty men. But now, let my life mean something to you!” (2Kings 1, 14). David then built an altar there to the Lord, and offered up holocausts and peace offerings. When he called upon the Lord, he answered him by sending down fire from heaven upon the altar of holocausts (1Cr 21, 26). When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the holocaust and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house (2Cr 7, 1). All the Israelites looked on while the fire came down and the glory of the Lord was upon the house, and they fell down upon the pavement with their faces to the earth and adored, praising the Lord, “for he is good, for his mercy endures forever” (2Cr 7, 3). While he was yet speaking, another came and said, “Lightning has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” (Jb 1, 16).

Jesus did not come to make this fire that just destroys rain down. He came to bring onto the earth another fire, the fire that destroys and gives birth to a new life. It destroys sin, vice and the old man’s nature in order to build a new one.

When the days for his 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 him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “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.”

In the Old Testament Elisha was plowing when Elijah called him to his service. He took the plow and used it as firewood. He said goodbye and followed Elijah forever.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us true disciples of Jesus.