First Kings 19:16b, 19-21

Although Elijah is a great prophet of the Lord, we see in First Kings that he can be stubborn. He does not always or immediately obey the commands of the Lord. In this passage, however, Elijah does obey when commanded to anoint Elisha as his successor. Elijah’s choice of Elisha is quite sudden and Elisha's desire to bid farewell to his parents is understandable. Ironically, his request for delay mirrors Elijah’s own stubbornness with the Lord. Nevertheless, Elisha demonstrates his determination to answer the call. He slaughters his oxen and uses the wood of the plow to make a fire and cook them for his people. Elisha has definitely put aside the necessities of his life as a farmer and he answers Elijah’s call. Elisha’s determination to follow is remarkable and complete.

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

This individual Psalm of trust rejects the allure of the false gods and asserts absolute dependence upon, and trust in, the One, True, Living God.

Galatians 5:1, 13-18

Paul evangelized the largely Gentile Christian community in Galatia. However, later missionaries appeared there and objected to Paul's theological stance with regard to the inclusion of Gentile believers. It appears that these new preachers undermined Paul's authority by questioning his credentials and teaching that non-Jewish converts must observe Mosaic ritual law in order to be admitted to the Christian faith.Among other things, those ritual laws required circumcision.
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Perhaps motivated by misplaced zeal, many of the Galatians were deceived by this argument and adopted the prescriptions of Mosaic law. Paul's letter tot he Galatians is a harsh letter, rebuking them for this failure to remain faithful to the Gospel as they had received it. 
The passage at hand is part of Paul's passionate appeal to the Galatian Christians to uphold the authenticity of their original conversion and experience of the Spirit. Their adoption of the Mosaic laws is not a deepening of their faith, but a kind of backsliding or spiritual immaturity. In taking up a practice life circumcision, they have regressed to the exterior surface level after having experienced the depths of the Spirit with Paul. And Paul communicates the message in very strong terms - they are rejecting the freedom won for them by the Lord Jesus.

Luke 9:51-62

In this passage, Jesus sets out with resolute determination on His journey to Jerusalem. The question of His identity was addressed in last week’s Gospel passage. He is the Messiah of God and it is His destiny to go up to Jerusalem and there undergo the Passion. For nearly ten chapters in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus will journey towards Jerusalem. His movement is more than just geography. Like Elijah and Elisha, Jesus is a great prophet of the Lord. (In a number of passages, Luke appears to see parallels between Jesus’ ministry and that of the prophets in the Book of Kings.) Unlike Elijah who reacts with stubbornness to the commands of the Lord, Jesus never fails to demonstrate unconditional obedience. Even in the face of the God’s most terrible requirement: suffering and death on the cross, Jesus moves with determination. The journey will not permit Him the normal comforts of home as Jesus begins His return to the Father in heaven and takes the opportunity to train His disciples.

Luke’s reason for including the detail of the Samaritan village is less clear. Perhaps he sees Jesus’ compassion even for opponents as a lesson in discipleship. It may also be that Luke has a particular interest as he will recount a mission to the Samaritans in his second volume, The Acts of the Apostles.
           
Just as Jesus is determined to fulfill God’s will, so the disciple must follow Jesus unreservedly and without distraction. To demonstrate the seriousness of His words, Jesus offers extreme examples. In the culture of First Century Palestine, to leave the body of one’s father unburied was unthinkable. Yet Jesus counsels just this behavior and leaves the disciple with a memorable and shocking lesson in the demands of discipleship.