In this weekend’s first reading from First Kings, and summarize in some four minutes, the prophet Elijah is going to retire and has been told by God to anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, as his successor as the new prophet of God. In this “retirement” ceremony—Elijah throws his mantle, his cloak, over Elisha making him the new prophet of God—the cloak is the sign of the prophet. All this is accomplished while they were out in the fields plowing with oxen. As Elijah goes into retirement and leaves his fields and in order to celebrate this transition, he hosts a celebration party, slaughtering the oxen as food and then burns the plows for fire wood to cook the food for the people.

When I first read this account in seminary class, I wondered why not sell the farm, the oxen and plows off for retirement money? But scripture scholars, particularly Fr. Gregg Friedman, OFM, tells us that this celebration party complete with the burning of the plows and the slaughtering of the oxen is a sign of Elijah’s commitment to God’s call. Elijah is placing all his trust in God. He isn’t looking back, he just knows God has a plan for him and confidently trusts in God.

How committed are we to our faith? To living it out in our families—do we pray together at meals or at night; do we believe that our blessings are self-made or God given? Am I willing to live my Catholic faith out in the parish by participating in a program or ministry? Do I support my parish so she can plan ahead and develop programs and ministries to care for others and to spread the Good News to new believers—and especially those in our own families who are unbelieving? How do I fit my faith into my “time, talents and treasure?” Have I joined a ministry, sung in the choir, fed the hungry, taught in Faith Formation, encouraged my child to join youth ministry? Do I pray for others at Mass and at home, am I engaged in the prayers of the faithful at Mass? As I walk to the altar to receive the Body and Blood of Christ—do I forgive the one who has hurt me or do I ask the Lord to forgive the hurt I have caused. Do I show my support for the parish—have I evaluated the parish’s activities and am I willing to contribute to maintain it and to expand our role in fulfilling God’s Will?

The Gospel of Luke this weekend asks us again: am I willing to follow the Lord and do it with a firm commitment? If you are at Mass this weekend and hear the brief words of parishioner and college graduate Stephanie Sickinger as she illustrates her full-throttled commitment to Christ, we can all take a lesson from her in truly considering what faith asks of us individually and how God has a role for each of us in His plan of salvation. You’ll be amazed.

The takeaway from this weekend’s readings for each of us is this: As human beings none of us has the strength to follow Christ on our own. But in and with His Grace He can free us to make the hard decisions of life. He can give us the grace and favor to hear Him speak to us and to have the gifts of the Holy Spirit—courage and wisdom—to choose to follow Him. What can I/We do?

Pray to the Lord and ask for the grace to truly have a real commitment to sacrifice. Each night review the decisions and choices I made during the day. Ask for God’s help. Look clearly at our faith’s calling and consider the response of my time, talent and treasure which I have given to the Lord. And never fail to believe that He is with us, He shall guide us, and He will protect us, one day welcoming us to Himself. As a Catholic practitioner will I be a “foot dragger” in faith, always looking in the rearview mirror or will I step ahead, abandon the plow and become part of His glory and power? It is apropos to say: Forward with Faith