13th Week in Ordinary Time : Sunday 2nd July 2023

The Gospel reading reminds us of the “cost of Discipleship”. Jesus demands from His followers (us) a total and unconditional loyalty to Him. To be worthy of Jesus, we should love Him more than our family. (Mt.10: 37).

This implies that we must be prepared to take up His Cross and follow Him (Mt.10:38). We are also expected to lose ourselves to find our lives in Christ. This could entail the readiness to face opposition and rejection to gain eternal life. Such sacrifices will have no value unless related to the mission of Christ – the Cross, which every committed Christian should be willing to carry.

A disciple of Jesus who live according to Jesus’ way of life will receive the reward of eternal life.

In the first reading, the woman who attended to the needs of Elisha was rewarded. Such acts of hospitality are a powerful way of evangelisation, even in our local context. In a multi-racial, religious and cultural society, we can witness Jesus’ way of life through our hospitality, kindness and generosity. This calls for a ‘dying’ to oneself for others.

The second reading also reiterates that when we die to our sins, we live in God and in Christ.

So, let us join in the Gospel acclamation:

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”