July 2, 2017

13th Sun., Ordinary Time

July 2, 2017:  Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time



  • 'Silverware' tie bar:  Elisha dined with the Shunemmite woman... (1st reading)
  • 'Street light' tie bar:  ...who prepared a room for him (1st reading); they walk in the light of the Lord's countenance (psalm)
  • 'Musical note' tie pin:  "I'll sing the Lord's goodness" (psalm)
  • 'Shield' tie pin:  To the Lord belongs our shield (psalm)
  • 'Crucifix' tie pin:  We were baptized into Christ's death (2nd reading)
  • 'Cups' tie:  Whoever gives a cup of water to a disciple will be rewarded (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
Listen

For 2nd reading
For Psalm 89
For next Sunday
Pope Francis Angelus
Christian missionary discipleship is being bound to Our Lord Jesus Christ and being bearers of him, ambassadors of Christ who put on Christ and bring him to others, forsaking themselves and everything else for his sake.  Being disciples requires that our relationship with the Master take precedence over all others.”
The Virgin Mary felt what it means to love Jesus, detaching oneself from oneself, giving new meaning to family ties, beginning with faith in him.  May she help us, through her intercession, to be free and cheerful missionaries of the Gospel.
"Take up your cross..."
(animate)
Read
  • 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a  In Shunem a woman urged Elisha to dine with her.  He arrived and stayed in the room they prepared for him.  He promised her, "This time next year you'll be fondling a baby son."
  • Rom 6:3-4, 8-11  We who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death, buried with him so we might live in newness of life.  As Christ died to sin and lives for God, you must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God.
  • Mt 10:37-42  "Whoever loves father, mother, or child more than me, or doesn't take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it; whoever loses it for my sake will find it.  Whoever receives you receives me and the one who sent me.  Whoever receives a prophet or a righteous man..., and whoever gives water to a disciple, will be rewarded."
Reflect
  • Creighton:  In the 1st reading, the welcomer, a barren woman with hope, receives the blessing of a son.  In the gospel Jesus has some hard words about parental and family love.  We don't love God in our heart or head but rather by taking a position towards creation as gift.  Our position towards everything else only makes sense if there's a loving Giver who cares for us.  Loving God is letting God love us, reverencing how God gives and takes, and showing love by caring in a welcoming way.  Jesus loves his disciples and sends them out to be received and welcomed and so know the love that goes with them. They will bless those who are open to their blessings.  They are today's prophets who keep knocking, entering, passing by, and asking for welcome.  We don't receive God's love or reward by doing something; we're made ready to receive God’s love by being receptive to “prophetic moments” of each day, our “daily cross.” We learn how to love God by allowing God to be welcomed in our days.
    Elisha and the Shunammite woman
    (van den Eeckhout)
  • One Bread, One Body:  "The greatest event of your life":  Your baptism was the greatest event of your life, but many Christians don't realized the "radical newness" of their baptismal life and the "immense, extraordinary richness and responsibility" of baptism (John Paul II).  We were baptized into Christ; were in his death, burial, and resurrection and have the saving benefits of these events.  We're not condemned; we're redeemed, forgiven, and chosen.  We're "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation."  May we live our baptism, learning to walk, talk, think, feel, work, pray, hear, see, and love in Jesus.
  • Passionist:  God is the author of life, and those who serve God bring life into their world:  After Elijah was taken up, it fell to his disciple Elisha to point out God’s will and blessings.  The woman in the 1st reading was hospitable to the prophet.  In the gospel, Jesus speaks of those hospitable to prophets; good deeds are rewarded.  Elisha prophesies she'll bear a son, and she does; he later dies but is brought back to life.  "It's in the nature of goodness to spread itself"  (Thomas Aquinas).  God won't be outdone in generosity.  The agent of God’s blessing could be one who loves a neighbor, acknowledges a favor, or shares a loving concern.  May we plant the seed of love, and reward the goodness we experience with acts of goodness; let us experience love spreading...
    Elisha and the son of the Shunammite woman
    (Sluyters)
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Those who love father and mother more than me aren't worthy of me":  God loved us first; our love is a response.  Even while we were sinning, he gave us his Son to set us free.  Jesus' death won for us pardon, adoption as God's children, and new life in the Spirit, who reveals the Father and Son's love to us.  Jesus commanded his disciples to give him their undivided loyalty, love, trust, and obedience; we owe him gratitude for what he's done for us.  Jesus challenges his disciples to examine whom they love foremost.  Jesus insists his disciples give him loyalty higher than spouse or kin.  Family and friends can keep us from doing what God wants us to do.  To place anything above God is idolatry.  We can allow things to control our lives and possess us, but God can set us free to love with mercy, kindness, goodness, and perseverance.  If we put love of God and his kingdom first, he'll give us all we need.
Love for God compels us to do good deeds.  Jesus said any kindness shown and help given will be rewarded.  As Jesus gave to anyone in need who asked, we're called to be kind and generous like him.  The reward of a life given to God is God himself....
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