Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 2, 2023
First Reading: 2 Kings 4.8-12a, 14-16
8One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food.9And she said to her husband, "Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way.10Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there."11One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there.12And he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." When he had called her, she stood before him.14And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old."15He said, "Call her." And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway.16And he said, "At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant."
Psalm 89
1I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.2For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness."3You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:4'I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.'" Selah5Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!6For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,7a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?8O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?9You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.10You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.11The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.12The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.13You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.15Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,16who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.17For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.18For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.19Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said: "I have granted help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.20I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him,21so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.22The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him.23I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.24My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted.25I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.26He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'27And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.28My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.29I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.30If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules,31if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,32then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,33but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.34I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.35Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David.36His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.37Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies." Selah38But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.39You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust.40You have breached all his walls; you have laid his strongholds in ruins.41All who pass by plunder him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors.42You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.43You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and you have not made him stand in battle.44You have made his splendor to cease and cast his throne to the ground.45You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with shame. Selah46How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?47Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man!48What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah49Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David?50Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations,51with which your enemies mock, O LORD, with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.52Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.
Second Reading: Romans 6.3-4, 8-11
3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.9We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.10For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 10.37-42
37Whoever 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.38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39Whoever 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 him who sent me.41The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.42And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons on love, faith, and the transformative power of God. The first reading from 2 Kings introduces us to the Shunammite woman, a remarkable figure whose hospitality and kindness toward the prophet Elisha open the door to a miraculous blessing. Despite her own struggles—childlessness and an aging husband—she prioritizes caring for Elisha, and in return, God grants her a son. This story reminds us that our acts of love and generosity, no matter how small they may seem, are seen by God and can lead to unexpected graces.
The second reading from Romans deepens our understanding of the spiritual life. St. Paul explains that through baptism, we are united with Christ’s death and resurrection, freeing us from the dominion of sin and empowering us to live a new life in God. This passage invites us to reflect on our own baptism and the call to walk in the "newness of life" that comes from dying to sin and living for Christ. Just as the Shunammite woman’s faith and hospitality brought life to her home, our commitment to living as disciples can bring spiritual life to those around us.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to prioritize our relationship with him above all else. He calls us to take up our cross and follow him, even when it requires sacrifice. The promise is clear: those who lose their lives for his sake will find true life, and those who welcome others in his name will be rewarded. This teaching echoes the example of the Shunammite woman, who opened her heart and home to God’s prophet and received a blessing beyond measure. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to love and serve with the same selflessness? Are we open to the ways God might work through us to bring life and hope to others? May we, like the Shunammite woman, trust in God’s providence and live with hearts open to his transformative grace.