Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 28, 2020

To journey single heartedly along His path...    

Reflections on the readings for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 28, 2020): 2 KGS 4:8-11; 14-16; PS 89:2-3,16-17,18-19; ROM 6:3-4,8-11; MT 10:37-42

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Jesus wanted every one of His followers, then and now, to turn over our will to Him...

In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus says several things that must have been difficult for many of His disciples to hear and accept. Our Lord does not hesitate to let them know that He must have first place in their hearts. Any one who gives priority to self or even family does not deserve Him. He also says, “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” (Matthew 10:38-39). Today we hear Christ’s words about taking up our cross and following Him with an understanding that His original listeners could not have. We know that He did not only carry His cross but also suffered and died upon it. When He talks about the idea that we must be willing to give up our life for Him, we know that He already laid down His life for us.

Jesus wanted every one of His followers, then and now, to turn over our will to Him, as well as opening ourselves to His message of mercy and gift of salvation. Christ gave Himself completely to the Father who desired from Him the utter obedience that led to death at Calvary and then Resurrection from the tomb. Our Lord wants us to model ourselves on Him and, in return, discover that we have received far more than we ever thought we could lose. And we will find that we can love and care for our family and also more truly become the person we were always meant to be. We gain these blessings by living for His sake rather our own. Moreover, Jesus reminds us that we share a special bond with all those who follow Him and that it is important to always offer them love, respect and kindness.