Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 28th June

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 the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

Commentary

Before we contemplating the Gospel reading today, it would benefit us if we are aware that it is the practice of the Church that when a teaching of Jesus is continued over several weeks, each Sunday’s Gospel reading begins with a reminder of the context of the reading. In today’s reading, it begins with “Jesus said to his apostles….” It reminds us that we Catholics always read the Bible “historically” because each book and each passage of the Bible was composed in historical context in the sense that it happened historically among us.

Applying this practice to our reading of today’s Gospel, we can see and sense that how Jesus sent his apostles into their world. Being a historical event, it not only happened yesterday but continues today among us, whom are also sent by Jesus into our world. In this “historical” context, we read today’s Gospel with questions such as, in the back of our mind, who is the Jesus who says these things to us? What does Jesus say about the world that we are living in? How Jesus wants us to be present in the world?

The Gospel can be divided into two parts. In the first part, which runs from verses 37 to 39, is about what Jesus would like his apostles or disciples to make on their contemporaries. The second part, verses 40 to 42, is about the presence of Jesus in the Church and our community after he has left them.

In the first part, Jesus wants us not to lead a mediocre life. He reminds us that being his disciples or followers we are willing to risk everything we hold dear. He begs us to ask the question of the purpose of our life. St. Ignatius of Loyola, in his little book, the Spiritual Exercises, says: “Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.” How do I see the purpose of my life? Is it for wealth, health, and/or long life only?

There two places that we should pay special attention. One place is verse 37: “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.” Does Jesus teach us not to love our parents and children? Of course, it is not! This verse must be read as part of the cross which Jesus’ disciples or followers must take up.

The other place is that each verse is ended with “is not worthy of me”. This reminder tells us that we can water down his teaching in such a way that it is no longer “worthy” of him. Take sometimes today to reflect this reminder in our prayer and discover when and how we watered down Jesus’ teaching of following him?

Further, Jesus is a great teacher. He calls us to follow in his footsteps (verse 38). In this verse, he tells us that he does not preach what he says but practice what he preaches. Jesus sets us a good example how to follow his teaching.

He invites us to make a choice from the contradiction in verse 39: “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Jesus is a gentle teach. He does not force us to choose, but gives us the freedom to decide. We should contemplate this verse and taste the feelings that arise from these two sharply contradicting possibilities.

From verse 40 to the end of today’s Gospel is about the presence of Jesus in the community that he has left them. First, do we feel his presence in our different vocations as parents, children, teachers, community leaders, and church ministers? One way to know whether Jesus is present in our vocations is to ask us, “Do I welcome my vocation?” and “Do I feel welcomed in my vocation?’ The latter question is about do I feel at home with others while at the same time being allowed to remain true to ourselves. Moreover, even when we are welcomed by others, we should remind ourselves that it is because others welcome Jesus in the first place. In other words, let us be humble in our ministry.

We don’t have to be prophets or holy men/women in the literal sense of the words in verse 41, but in the sense of sharing our experience of Jesus with others.

In the last verse of today’s Gospel, Jesus again asks us to be humble in our ministry, vocation, or missions because the purpose of our life is to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.” Amen.