Through concrete stories, Scripture teaches us lessons which nowadays we would express in more abstract terms - lessons about commitment and responsibilities, personality types and character differences, generosity and unconditional love, reluctance and narrowness of heart.

Luke presents us with three portraits, three parables of response. The first man is unconditionally generous: "Wherever you go¡K" But his offer is too human: it must be purified by Jesus' challenge before it can serve as a divine call. The second man receives a divine call from Jesus and immediately makes conditions. Though we may consider his request most reasonable, the point is that we cannot limit God's call by our own concerns. The third man is a combination of the first two. On his own initiative he offers to follow Jesus but with conditions. We must learn that we cannot bargain with God. God does not negotiate: God invites and gives endless grace and light.

Jesus desires that we be generous. We may indeed like Elisha, have some hesitation in answering God's call. But like Elisha, we can overcome that reluctance and then generously and unconditionally follow Jesus.