Daily Readings - Sun Jun 28 2020
2 Kings
8And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.9And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.10Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.11And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.12And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.14And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.15And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.16And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.
Romans
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Matthew
37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.40He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.41He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of faith, hospitality, and the call to discipleship. In the first reading, we encounter the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman, a powerful example of hospitality and trust in God. The woman, recognizing Elisha as a holy man, opens her home to him, providing him with a place to rest. Her generosity and faith are rewarded when Elisha, moved by her kindness, promises her a son despite her advanced age and childlessness. This story reminds us that our acts of kindness and hospitality are not only expressions of love but also ways of participating in God’s plan.
The second reading from Romans deepens our understanding of the spiritual life. Paul writes about the transformative power of baptism, which unites us with Christ’s death and resurrection. Through baptism, we are called to leave behind our old selves and live a new life in Christ. This passage challenges us to consider how we are living out our faith. Are we truly living as people who have been raised with Christ, or are we still holding on to the patterns of sin and death? Paul encourages us to embrace the new life God has given us and to live in a way that reflects our union with Christ.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the radical demands of discipleship. He tells us that following him requires us to love him more than anything else, even more than our closest family ties. He also reminds us that true discipleship involves taking up our cross and losing our lives for his sake. Yet, Jesus also promises that those who receive others in his name—whether prophets, the righteous, or even the least among us—will be rewarded. This teaching calls us to live with generosity, humility, and a willingness to serve others, trusting that our efforts, no matter how small, are seen and valued by God.
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on how we are living out our faith. Are we like the Shunammite woman, opening our hearts and homes to others in trust and generosity? Are we living as people who have been transformed by Christ, leaving behind sin and embracing the new life he offers? And are we willing to follow Jesus, even when it requires sacrifice, trusting that our efforts to love and serve others will bear fruit? May we be inspired by these readings to live with greater faith, hospitality, and devotion, knowing that God is always at work in our lives.