"And whoever loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me."

 Rather than demanding that believers abandon their families,

Jesus is highlighting that true faith requires a radical, supreme devotion.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a

One day

Elisha went to Shunem, and a rich woman invited him to eat.

Afterward, whenever he went to that town, he would go to her house to eat.

The woman said to her husband, "See, this man who constantly passes by our house is a holy man of God.

If you want, we can make a small upper room for him, and place a bed, a table, a chair and a lamp in it.

So when he comes, he may stay and rest." One day when Elisha came, he went to the upper room and lay down.

 

So Elisha said to Gehazi, "What can we do for her?" The young man answered,

"She has no children and her husband is now old" And so Elisha said to him, "Call her."

The young man called her; and as the woman stood by the door, Elisha said,

"By this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms."

She answered, "No, my lord, O man of God, you are deceiving your maidservant."

 

Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19(2a)  

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 6:3-4, 8-11

Don't you know that in baptism, which unites us to Christ, we are all baptized and plunged into his death?

By this baptism in his death, we were buried with Christ and, as Christ was raised from among the dead

by the glory of the Father, we begin walking in a new life.

But, if we have died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him. We know that Christ,

once risen from the dead, will not die again, and death has no more dominion over him.

For, by dying, he is dead to sin, once and for all, and now, the life that he lives, is life with God.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 10:37-42

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 me, is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life, for my sake, will find it.

Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes him who sent me.

 

The one who welcomes a prophet, as a prophet, will receive the reward of a prophet;

the one who welcomes a just man, because he is a just man, will receive the reward of a just man.

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones,

because he is my disciple, I assure you, he will not go unrewarded."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Lectio Divina 

We are called to be bearers of His presence. Read: In our first reading, the prophet Elisha

receives the kindness and generosity of the Shunammite woman  as he carries out

his ministry as Yahweh's prophet.  In return, the woman is rewarded

when the prophet promises her a child. Jesus expresses a similar theme in the Gospel,

assuring that those who accept and follow his message will be rewarded.

In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul proclaims that those who believe in Christ are saved.

For in baptism, they died with Christ, and just as Christ was raised from the dead,

they too will receive new life in him.

 

Reflect: Jesus assures us, "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me,

and whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me."

This teaches us that our kindness and hospitality toward Christ's messengers are

acts of love toward God Himself. As disciples of the Lord, we are called to be

bearers of His presence. When we welcome others in His name and assist our brothers and sisters,

we open the doors of our hearts to His grace. The Father,

who sees all, rewards faithfulness with His divine presence and eternal joy.

May we always embrace Christ in others, knowing He dwells among us.

 

Pray: Lord, help me see you in my brothers and sisters.

 

Act: Turn your inspirations into tangible acts of kindness.