First reading 2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16
This is a holy man of God; let him rest here
One day as Elisha was on his way to Shunem, a woman of rank who lived there pressed him to stay and eat there. After this he always broke his journey for a meal when he passed that way. She said to her husband, ‘Look, I am sure the man who is constantly passing our way must be a holy man of God. Let us build him a small room on the roof, and put him a bed in it, and a table and chair and lamp; whenever he comes to us he can rest there.’ One day when he came, he retired to the upper room and lay down. He said to his servant Gehazi, ‘Call our Shunammitess. Tell her this: “Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us, what can we do for you? Is there anything you would like said for you to the king or to the commander of the army?”’ But she replied, ‘I live with my own people about me.’ ‘What can be done for her then?’ he asked. Gehazi answered, ‘Well, she has no son and her husband is old.’ Elisha said, ‘Call her.’ The servant called her and she stood at the door. This time next year,’ he said ‘you will hold a son in your arms.’
Responsorial Psalm 88:2-3,16-19
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,
that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.
Happy the people who acclaim such a king,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name,
who make your justice the source of their bliss.
For it is you, O Lord, who are the glory of their strength;
it is by your favour that our might is exalted:
for our ruler is in the keeping of the Lord;
our king in the keeping of the Holy One of Israel
Second reading Romans 6:3-4,8-11
When we were baptised we went into the tomb with Christ, so that we too might live a new life
When we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life.
But we believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him: Christ, as we know, having been raised from the dead will never die again. Death has no power over him any more. When he died, he died, once for all, to sin, so his life now is life with God; and in that way, you too must consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Matthew 10:37-42
Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.
‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.
‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’
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Jesus, my number one
In today’s gospel, Jesus underlines the truth about being His disciples. Discipleship implies choosing to live a life with Christ and for Christ. Because we choose to love Christ above all else, there will be consequences that we must prepare ourselves to embrace. One key consequence is that our choice for Jesus might bring division to those nearest and closest to us because our family members and friends might reject how we live as His disciples. Despite the challenges we face, we are called to put nothing and nobody before Christ. He has to be our highest priority.
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me”. Jesus also speaks to us about the need to welcome others who come by our way. When we welcome those who work to make God’s kingdom alive each day, we extend hospitality to Jesus Himself. Each day, we have many opportunities to include others in our lives and be a sign of God’s love to them. Let today be one filled with moments of reaching out to others and serving them out of love.
Reflective question:
How can I make Jesus my top priority and fill my day with gestures of hospitality?
How can I make Jesus my top priority and fill my day with gestures of hospitality?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
