Family Bible Study - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Luke 9:51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to
Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a
village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him,
because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John
saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven
and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to
another village. 57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will
follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and
birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To
another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60 But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and
proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me
first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a
hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Questions for discussion -

1. Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Jesus was focused on finishing the
task the Father had given him, to die to save us from our sins. What task has
God given you? How focused are you on that task?

2. Jesus met three people who said they wanted to follow Jesus, but all various
types of excuses of why they couldn’t follow him now. What were these three
excuses?

3. What excuses have you or others you know made not to follow Jesus fully?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry