Thirteenth Sunday of the Year:A:28th June 2020

     GOD REWARDS A GRACEFUL GIVER

First Reading: 2 Kings 4: 8-11 and 14-16
Second Reading: Romans 6: 3-4 and 8-11
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10: 37-42

   *First reading is from the second book of the Kings. This passage describes the hospitality of a woman of Shunem. When Prophet Elisha passed through Shunem this woman recognized him as a man of God and showed hospitality by giving him food and drink. Further she made arrangements for his comfortable stay in her home during his visits. God was pleased by her actions and rewarded her generosity with the promise of a son whom she was waiting for.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. In this passage Paul explains to the Christian community in Rome about the meaning of baptism in the name of Lord Jesus. To be baptized means that through the grace and power of the risen Lord we are dead to sin and live in holiness.

"He who receives you receives me"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The first part of the Gospel passage speaks about the necessity of following Jesus even to the point of death. And the second part of the Gospel speaks about the virtue of hospitality in the life of a follower of the Lord.
Jesus' demands from his would-be followers is rather harsh. He demands threefold renunciation from them.
1. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.
2. He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
3. He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Certainly we need to love our parents, children and near and dear ones. But Jesus makes it absolutely clear that this love of others and of oneself should not be at the cost of loving God. Love of God should take precedence over all our other priorities.
Jesus also promises His disciples that hospitality shown to them by anyone will be suitably rewarded - even if that be a glass of cold water.  
"God loves a cheerful giver."- 2 Corinthians 9:7
"For the measure you use, it will be measured to you ."- Luke 6:38
"Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conducts their affairs with justice."-Psalm 112:5

Twelveth Sunday of the Year:A: June 21, 2020

FEARLESS AND COURAGEOUS DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 10-13
Second Reading: Romans 5: 12-15
Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10: 26-33

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. In this passage Jeremiah expresses his anguish and pain. Even when surrounded by enemies and faced with terror from every side Jeremiah places his total trust in the Lord God. He is convinced that the Lord God is on his side.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. In this passage Paul explains to the Christians in Rome that sin and death came through Adam the first man. However freedom and life came through Jesus Christ the second Adam.

"Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. In this passage Jesus invites His disciples to be fearless and courageous in the face of rejection and opposition.
The following points are mentioned:
1. Message of Jesus is not to be hidden but to be proclaimed openly - on the house tops.
2. Disciples should not be afraid of those who kill the body but be afraid of the one who can kill the soul.
3. Even a tiny sparrow is taken care of  by God. We are of more value than many sparrows. If so, we should realize that God is in control of our lives and nothing happens without His knowledge.
4. Those who acknowledge Jesus and His message openly will be acknowledged by the heavenly Father. Hence fearless witnessing to Christ will make us worthy to receive eternal reward.
In order to respond wholeheartedly to Jesus's invitation needs great faith, courage and radical commitment. But He does not want His disciples to be members of a cowardly Church or a faithless community. He wants us to stand up and be counted for our faith.
" My job seems to be to go around picking up insults and corpses" - Bl. Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador.
"I really fear that most of those who call themselves Christians would go on almost as they do, if they believed Christianity to be nothing more than a fable" - Bl. Cardinal Newman.
"Keeping silent in the face of injustice is as DEADLY as the violence itself." - Jimmy Carter (Former President of USA)