13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

June 28, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: 2 Kings 4: 8-11, 14-16a

Psalm 89 “Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.”

Second Reading: Romans 6: 3-4, 8-11

Gospel reading according to Matthew 10: 37-42

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Homily:

Before Jesus send his twelve chosen disciples, as we continue the discourse on mission sending of his apostle, he reminded them what priority they should have in order to become successful in their missionary activities.  First, with regards to their family relationship.  There is nothing wrong when we love our parents.  But if we love our parents (our fathers and mothers) more than Jesus and we love them first among many, we are not worthy to be called his disciples, because they will become hindrance in following Jesus’s commands. There is also nothing wrong when you love your wives and children, but if you love very much your wives and children, the same effect, you are not worthy to be his disciples, because your wives and children are your priorities.  For Jesus is a jealous God.  He wants to be the first and the last (no in-between; walang nakasingit), in our affection with him.  “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′ . . .” (Matthew 10: 37).  He does not want to be the second or third in the hierarchy of our love and relationship, and of priority.  He is always the first in our love of him.  He is our priority.  Because, his love for us is always first and last also, no in-between.

Second, the same in following him who took up his cross for our sake, he wanted us also to imitate him for the love of him and of others by carrying our crosses everyday of our lives.   “. . . ‵and whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me′.” (Matthew 10: 38).  We cannot love him and follow him if we do not carry our crosses daily in imitation of him.  By carrying our crosses we show to him how much we love him and obey his commands.

Third, when we avoid in carrying our crosses, on the one hand, and putting them down, and protecting ourselves from such harm of suffering, pain, problems, struggles, calamities in life, even death, we escape all the challenges of the cross, rather we choose pleasures in life, then we lose the meaning of love and living.  “‵Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it′.” (Matthew 10: 39).  On the other hand, when we endure all hardships in life, all challenges, all problems, all struggles, the sufferings, pains, even losing one’s life, we gain and regain our lives.  When we keep our lives, sooner or later we will lose it; but if we give our lives to others, especially to Jesus Christ, we have it to the fullest.

Then, he regarded his disciples to be like prophets, righteous men, and the little ones.  As prophets, the disciples bring glad tidings to all who need to heat the good news.  As a righteous men, they bring justice to the unjust society, and as little ones,, they become servants of all they meet.   “‵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 righteous 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 he is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward′.” (Matthew 10: 40-42).  Like their Teacher, Master and Leader who went first one mission, for he was sent by God, His Father, he brought good news to all starting from Galilee to Jerusalem, ad he received mixed acceptance, others were cold, if not dead, some were lukewarm, and others were warm.  Anybody who receives them, it is sure that they are receiving the one who send them, and the one who seed them receives also the one who sent him.  The one who receives them also receives a recompense for his or her generosity.