13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 27, 1999
Reading I:
2Kings 4:8-11,14-16 II:
Romans 6:3-4,8-11
Gospel
Matthew 10:37-42
37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
38 and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
41 He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
Interesting Details
-
To the Jews, the family is very important. Jesus taught that our
relationship with Him must be placed above the relationship
with our family.
-
In the Bible, the expression "carrying the Cross" are repeated
many times.
-
According to the Jewish tradition, a sinner must bear the cross
to the execution site, he will then be nailed to the cross.
-
The Greeks wear the cross as a symbol of their Christian discipleship.
-
The execution at the cross was implemented against the criminals
who rebelled against the Roman authorities. Therefore, biblical
scholars thought that by his teaching, Jesus conveyed the message
that to follow him one needs to forsake the norms and the common
ways of life.
One Main Point
The love for Christ must be stronger than the love for the family and
for oneself. How we treat others is likened how we treat Christ.
Reflections
- What place does God have in my life?
- What are the obstacles that hinder me from being a good disciple?
What do I lose when I follows Jesus?
- What do I have to do to see Christ in others?
- Why does Jesus want me to forsake myself to follow him?
- What are my attitudes toward the people who are "different"
(in lifestyle, belief, culture, educational background,...) from me?
Enter Reader's Response or View Reader's Response this week
A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community
