13th Sunday in Ordinary time
Introduction to the Liturgy
Resurrection Health Care

In the gospel today, Jesus invites those to whom he is speaking saying “Follow Me.”  One of his listeners said, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  But Jesus reminds him the “The foxes have dens and the birds of the sky have nests, but the on of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

The liturgy today highlights our freedom.  We may follow Jesus or we may not.  Saint Paul reminds us that ‘you were called for freedom…but do not use this 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.” 

The reflection for today in “The Word among Us” tells us that “Jesus has set us free to love and serve each other—and to do it in new and creative ways. Think of how creative God has been in setting his people free.  Who would have imagined city walls falling down with a trumpet blast or God’s coming to earth as a baby?  Who can imagine as well the unexpected ways he can inspire us to reach out to each other.”

One way we can experience freedom is forgiveness.  Forgiveness of ourselves and forgiveness of others.

For our symbol today, during the penitential rite, we are all invited to make a special effort to enter into a new freedom by using this part of the liturgy to let go of any grudges or hurts or memories that are keeping us from union with Jesus.  At this Eucharist, let us let go and let God will us with his forgiveness and his love.