Gospel (Lk 9,57-62) - At that time, as they were going along the road, a man said to Jesus: "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said: "Follow me." And he replied. «Lord, allow me to go and bury my father first». Jesus replied, “Let the dead bury their dead; you go and announce the kingdom of God." Another said: "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me take leave of those at home." But Jesus answered him: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Jesus has just begun his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem and the problem of following him immediately arises. Many flocked to him, especially men and women in need of help, healing, comfort, but how could they continue to follow him? Among those who were healed or who were fascinated by his words, there were those who decided to stay with him and follow him on his path. However, it was not an obvious choice nor an easy one. Not everyone understands this. And many abandon it because the commitment is considerable. Others, however, approach and present themselves to Jesus asking to follow him. In Jesus' answers the conditions emerge to be able to follow him and become his disciple. And it is singular that the three answers given by Jesus concern in some way relationships with the family. To the first person who asks him to follow him, that is, to share his same destiny, Jesus replies that the Son of Man, unlike foxes who have dens and birds who have nests, does not even have where to lay his head. The disciple must live with the same poverty that the master has. The second person receives the call directly from Jesus. And to the question of allowing him to bury his father, Jesus responds by affirming the primacy of following and announcing the Gospel even with respect to the most delicate moments of a family's life, such as the burial of the father. The third person who approaches hears Jesus say that, if he wants to follow him, he must have no regrets for the life he left behind. The life that is received in following Jesus does not tolerate regrets and backward glances. Following Jesus is undoubtedly a radical and even paradoxical choice. But this is so because Jesus' love for us is total, radical, paradoxical, unique. We could say that Jesus was the first to experience this radicality in obedience to his father and his plan. The disciple lives by the same love that Jesus has for the Father. This is the love we need to be freed, we and the world, from the slavery of sin and death. Prayer with the saints