Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 2023 Fourth Sunday after Trinity

Title

Loosing Attachments and Following Jesus

Outline

Life is often a two-step if we want it to be worthwhile

There is leaving the screen and instead jogging or reading - this leads to health or wider thinking

There is admitting x is sinful (reconciliation may follow instruction, for some do not confess a sin because they are either ignorant of or disagree with Church teaching) and then planning to practice the virtue that makes the sin difficult.

There is setting sacramental and spiritual life in order because one wants to break the negative influence of darker spiritual forces. Often this entails some ascetic practice.

And of course all of this is reflected in Christian baptism in which one renounces the world, the flesh and the devil and then pledges to follow Jesus as Lord.

That is what Romans is talking about

“We who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death” - we “put to death” the attachments and vices that controlled us, put them to death in the death of Christ.

We then are raise so that “we too might live in newness of life.” This does not mean going back to the same vices and attachments, but going forward into living with Christ. It is a changed mindset: “You too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus says that even the closest attachments need renunciation

We no longer love father, mother, son, daughter or anyone or anything else as an end in themselves. Instead, we have “taken up our cross” meaning have seen ourselves as “dead” to those things and have followed Jesus. This does not mean that we do not love our families, but that we love them coram deo, in the presence of, to the glory of, for the sake of God.

Then we learn that what was perhaps experienced as loss is really a gain: “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

This transforms our relationships

The Shunemite woman starts by showing ordinary hospitality, but when she recognizes that Elisha is “a holy man of God” she treats him with holy respect and honor. She asks for nothing. But God gives her her deepest desire, long given up, and then will transform that into a deeper relationship with him.

One may do a little act of love, not to gain credit or get anything, but coram deo, “whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple.” That becomes God’s measure of reward. We can practice this every day in our relationships in families or at work - do x, not because it is your duty or you have to or it is right, but do it before God, for God, for the sake of God.

That is the heart of the spiritual life.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 7-2-2023: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

2 Kings 4:8–11, 14–16a

8 One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of influence, who pressed him to dine with her. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he would stop there to dine. 9 So she said to her husband, “I know that he is a holy man of God. Since he visits us often, 10 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.”

11 One day Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.

14 Later Elisha asked, “What can we do for her?” Gehazi answered, “She has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 Elisha said, “Call her.” He did so, and when she stood at the door, 16 Elisha promised, “This time next year you will be cradling a baby son.” She said, “My lord, you are a man of God; do not deceive your servant.”

Catholic Daily Readings 7-2-2023: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 89:2a

2 I will sing of your mercy forever, LORD

proclaim your faithfulness through all ages.

PSALM

Psalm 89:2–3, 16–19

2 I will sing of your mercy forever, LORD

proclaim your faithfulness through all ages.

3 For I said, “My mercy is established forever;

my faithfulness will stand as long as the heavens.

16 Blessed the people who know the war cry,

who walk in the radiance of your face, LORD.

17 In your name they sing joyfully all the day;

they rejoice in your righteousness.

18 You are their majestic strength;

by your favor our horn is exalted.

19 Truly the LORD is our shield,

the Holy One of Israel, our king!

Catholic Daily Readings 7-2-2023: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Romans 6:3–4, 8–11

3 Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.

8 If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. 10 As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. 11 Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-2-2023: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

GOSPEL

Matthew 10:37–42

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; 38 and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 7-2-2023: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading 2 Kings 4:8–11, 14–16a

Response Psalm 89:2a

Psalm Psalm 89:2–3, 16–19

Second Reading Romans 6:3–4, 8–11

Gospel Acclamation 1 Peter 2:9

Gospel Matthew 10:37–42

GREEN