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Contemplating today's Gospel

Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
View 1st Reading and Psalm
1st Reading (2Kgs 4:8-11.14-16a): One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine. So she said to her husband, «I know that Elisha is a holy man of God. Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp, so that when he comes to us he can stay there».

Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight. Later Elisha asked, «Can something be done for her?». His servant Gehazi answered, «Yes! She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years». Elisha said, «Call her». When the woman had been called and stood at the door, Elisha promised, «This time next year you will be fondling a baby son».
Responsorial Psalm: 88
R/. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises of the Lord I will sing forever, through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. For you have said, «My kindness is established forever»; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

Blessed the people who know the joyful shout; in the light of your countenance, o Lord, they walk. At your name they rejoice all the day, and through your justice they are exalted.

You are the splendor of their strength, and by your favor our horn is exalted. For to the Lord belongs our shield, and the Holy One of Israel, our king.
2nd Reading (Rom 6:3-4.8-11): Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.
Versicle before the Gospel (1Pt 2:9): Alleluia. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Alleluia.
Gospel text (Mt 10:37-42): Jesus said to his apostles: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple— amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."

“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever receives you receives me”

Fr. Antoni POU OSB Monk of Montserrat (Montserrat, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, upon listening to Jesus' words, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me...” (Mt 10,37), we are puzzled. However, as we delve deeper, we realize the lesson the Lord wants to convey: for Christians, the only absolute is God and His Kingdom. Everyone must discover their vocation - possibly the most delicate task of all - and faithfully follow it. If a Christian man or woman has a marital vocation, they should realize that fulfilling their vocation consists in loving their family as Christ loves the Church.

The vocation to religious life or priesthood asks not to put family ties before those of faith, as long as we do not fail to meet the basic requirements of Christian charity. Family ties cannot enslave and stifle the vocation to which we are called. Behind the word "love" can hide a possessive desire for the other that takes away their freedom to develop their human and Christian life; or the fear of leaving the family nest and facing the demands of life and Jesus' call to follow him. It is this distortion of love that Jesus asks us to transform into a free and generous love, because, as Saint Augustine says, "Christ has come to transform love."

Love and hospitality will always be at the core of the Christian life, towards everyone and, above all, towards our family members, because they are usually the closest and also constitute the "neighbor" that Jesus asks us to love. In welcoming others, there is always the welcoming of Christ: “Whoever receives you receives me” (Mt 11,40). Therefore, we must see Christ in those we serve, and also recognize Christ the servant in those who serve us.

Thoughts on Today's Gospel

  • "Through pains and wounds and favors, God forms His children for eternal life" (Saint Gregory the Great)

  • "So often in countless ways we are asked to compromise our faith, to water down the radical demands of the Gospel and to conform to the spirit of this age. Yet the martyrs call out to us to put Christ first" (Francis)

  • "(...) It is necessary to convince oneself that the primary vocation of the Christian is to follow Jesus (cf. Mt 16,25) (...)" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2.232)

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