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Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings
First Reading: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16A
Responsorial: Psalm 89:2-3, 16-19
Second Reading: Romans 6:3-4, 8-11
Gospel: Matthew 10:37-42
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062820.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
I really enjoy watching the Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr. In A Game of Shadows, Mycroft Holmes says, “He’s all me, me, me, isn’t he?” I think that gets to the heart of the Gospel message today.
Jesus describes some shocking ideas in the Gospel today. He says, “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,” (Matthew 10:31).
What is Jesus getting at?
He’s not telling us that we shouldn’t love our parents, or our families, or our friends. What he is saying is that we humans have a funny ability to put someone or something at the center of our lives – perhaps without even realizing it. Anything we place in the center – it could be family or material successes like wealthy or authority or some other prize – anything we place in the center has the potential of becoming a god to us.
That’s why our Judeo-Christian faith teaches us about the dangers of idolatry. That is also why in our Catholic faith tradition, we must be very careful to remind ourselves and others that an object like a statue is only a reminder – a signpost if you will on our journey to the Kingdom. Even blessed, it is no substitute for Christ. To put it another way, we can use blessed objects like a church, statue, a rosary, a holy medal, to help us worship Jesus, to sing as our Psalmist suggests, “Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord,” (Pslam 89:2), but we never worship the object.
Jesus affirms our understanding by reminding us that our purpose is to know, love and serve God – period. But things can get in our way, which is why he uses the painful and humiliating image of the cross. This is not an easy message!
Consider current events – whether it’s about requirements to wear a face mask or violence provoked by the murder of George Floyd. Both of these are filled with examples that help to illustrate the Gospel message.
Let’s take the case of Mr. Floyd. Here was a man who after being arrested by the police, dropped to the ground just before the officers are able to get him into the police vehicle. For reasons we don’t know, as one of the first responding officers struggles to get Mr. Floyd into the back of the police vehicle, Mr. Chauvin goes to the other side of the vehicle and pulls Mr. Floyd out on onto the ground. He then kneels on Mr. Floyd’s neck – a restraint neither sanctioned nor taught by any police department or police academy in the United States. Why did he do it? Let’s set aside the question of race. We can only speculate, but was it arrogance? Did he believe that he knew better than his instructors or his boss or the department? Was some sort of overinflated self-importance the center of his world? If race was a component, isn’t that also about an exaggerated self-worth over others? Look at how self-corroding this can be.
Why is it that protestors in the wake of Mr. Floyd’s murder believe that they have the authority to destroy property, loot businesses and pull down and destroy statues? I think these violent protests are also examples of putting something other than Jesus at the center with disastrous effect.
Why is wearing a mask during this pandemic so controversial? The medical community has repeatedly suggested the importance of wearing a mask of some sort to impede the spread of the virus. Yet, many people who themselves are not healthcare professionals dismiss the advice. Now let’s be clear – a homemade cloth face mask may not prevent you from contracting the virus, that’s true. But it can reduce the number of droplets that come from the face mask wearer. Scientists believe that these droplets are the most effective transmission of the virus. So, even if you’re not showing symptoms, you might be a carrier. Wearing a mask reduces the chances that you will unknowingly spread the virus to someone else.
Why then is the suggestion of wearing a face mask so controversial? Why is that people believe they know better than trained physicians and nurses and other healthcare scientists? Why is wearing a mask considered to be part of some deep state conspiracy? Is it because these naysayers place themselves and not Jesus at the center of their world?
These are extreme examples, but I hope they help distinguish between a Christ-centered life from a self-centered life. Indeed, self-centeredness in any of its forms can create a noxious and self-corroding life.
Perhaps the Gospel message of putting Christ at our center is more difficult than we realize. Indeed, St. Paul in our second reading gives us some keen insight that through our baptism, we “are empowered by the Spirit to accomplish by grace what is beyond the ability of human nature.” <2>
What can happen when we live a Christ-centered life? The story of the Prophet Elisha and the influential couple in our first reading from Second Kings gives us a clue. In this story, the couple help provide for Elisha’s material needs. He is a traveling servant of God. The couple create a space in their home for him to stay whenever he wants – free room and board. This is an act of selflessness and it is also a sacrifice. Surely the room the gave up for Elisha served some other purpose. Also, the passage doesn’t say the couple were wealthy, only that she was influential. So, there had to be a cost to put Elisha up whenever he needed it. The story helps us see that to shift the focus of our lives away from ourselves and toward God bears much fruit. In this case, they who could not have a child were blessed with a baby.
Sometimes we think sacrifice – to carry our cross – is some great and unreasonable burden. But honestly, that idea is based on our lack of theological imagination. Don’t we hear Jesus tell us how much more generous will our Father be? (Matthew 7:11).
Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following questions which come to us from the bishops of the United States: <1>
- Whoever does not take up this cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. What cross is Jesus asking me to carry this week? Is there someone I can help to carry his or her cross?
- Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What people and experiences do I find life-giving? How can I lay down my life to serve God and others?
- Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. When has Jesus come to me in disguise? How can I be more attentive to opportunities to encounter Christ?
Our homework helps us understand the path of discipleship. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
Image Credit: Unknown. JPEG file.
Notes:
<1> Lectio Divina Of The Gospels, (Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019), 180-181.
<2> Hahn, Scott W. and Curtis Mitch. Romans, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2017), 96.
References:
1. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
2. Hahn, Scott W. and Curtis Mitch. Romans. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2017.
3. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
4. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Baptism, to die to self, to live for Christ, 537, 628, 790, 1213, 1226-28, 1694
2. Apostles’ mission, 858
3. Baptism – death and resurrection with Christ, 1214, 1220, 1227
4. Baptism – the sacrament of faith, 1226, 1253-54
5. Anointing of the Sick, 1506
6. Grace justifies through faith and baptism, 1987
7. To follow Christ is the first vocation of the Christian, 2232-33
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062820.cfm
Lectionary: 97
Reading 1
2 Kings 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 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19
R. (2a) 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.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
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.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
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.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Reading 2
Romans 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.
Alleluia
1 Peter 2:9
R. Alleluia, 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.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 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.”
