Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 28, 2020

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 28, 2020

Reflection

Hospitality has always been a hallmark of the Filipino. We Filipinos pamper our guests as if they were royalty. Where then does hospitality flow from? If we think deeply about it, hospitality reflects the dignity we bestow upon our guests based on our appraisal of them. Too often we treat better the better looking guests.

Our readings know about this universal human feature. The first reading narrates the prophet’s welcome that Elisha received. Wishing to pay back, Elisha intervenes on his hosts’ lack of a male heir, which is an embarrassment in their culture. It seems that great hospitality merits reward.

The psalm however reminds us that we are not the hosts. We have always been guests and God is our gracious host. The love and mercy of God does not depend on the righteousness of man. He loves both good and evil men. In front of this gratuity the psalm answers in gratitude.

This is the very point of the challenge of Jesus. Our Christian hospitality is not a reflection of our appraisal of people. If we do, we only merit justice. Instead, our hospitality is a reflection of the mercy of God. It extends to those without honor and dignity, the little ones, to whom we are invited to be inviting. If we do, we become God’s mercy to our community.

St. Paul strongly pointed out that a Christian’s life is not his own. He is living the life of Christ. Just as Christ died for men, both great and small, so must a Christian give himself to his brothers and sisters. Our hospitality is not about offering what we have to those that deserve it. Our hospitality is offering who we are to even those that don’t deserve it.

It might be a losing gamble but Jesus assures us that in the end we lose nothing. Everything is in the hands of the Father. Those who take up this cross does not lose any of what he has or any of who he is. Those who follow the mercy of God finds himself, and so much more, finds eternal life.

First Reading

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

PS 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.

Second 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.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.”