Daily Readings - Sun Jul 02 2023
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
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.