Readings for June 27, 2020 annotated—Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, lectionary 97

This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks to scriptural citations will take you to additional translations. The other hyperlinks will take you to explanations of original Greek words. Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. Text in green tells us to do something. Commentary is in blue.

Reading 1: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16 

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.”

This is an example of blessing someone because of their relationship with God, the sort of thing Jesus discusses in today’s gospel.

It is also an example of believers taking care of each other, what Jesus was encouraging in today’s gospel.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 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.

Reading 2: Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 

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.

This seems to tie into the first paragraph of today’s gospel.

Alleluia: 1 Peter 2:9 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation;
announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: 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.

We are to put Jesus above all other things.

That requires action, intentionality, on our part—deciding to and actually taking up our respective crosses.

"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 manwill 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.”

receives, receive= δέχομαι = dechomai

To receive heartily, to welcome; to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship; to receive into one's family to bring up or educate; to receive to hospitality; to accept, by a deliberate and ready reception

receive= λαμβάνω = lambanō

to receive as merely a self-prompted action, without necessarily signifying a favorable reception; to receive (what is given), to gain, get, obtain, to get back; accept; to associate with one' s self as companion, attendant

We receive Jesus when we receive other believers because they are believers. 

Today’s first reading seems to be an example of the dynamic Jesus is speaking of here.

So how do we bless— “receive”—our fellow believers?

-      Intercessory prayer

-      Acts of practical service

-      Extending grace, patience, kindness, encouragement, overlooking offenses/immaterial differences

What these readings tell us about God:

My kindness is established forever

your faithfulness.
You are the splendor of their strength

by your favor our horn is exalted.
to the LORD belongs our shield

we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death

If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. 

him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

What these readings tell us to do:

At your name they rejoice all the day

take up his cross and follow after me 

loses his life for my sake 

receive[] me

receive[] a prophet because he is a prophet 

receive[] a righteous man because he is a righteous man

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give[] ... a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple