Daily Readings - Sun Jun 28 2020

⁸One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.⁹She said to her husband, "I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God.¹⁰Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us."¹¹One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there.¹²He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite." So he called her, and she stood before him.¹⁴"What can be done for her?" Elisha asked. Gehazi said, "Well, she has no son and her husband is old."¹⁵Then Elisha said, "Call her." So he called her, and she stood in the doorway.¹⁶"About this time next year," Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms.No, my lord," she objected. "Don't mislead your servant, O man of God!"

Romans

Chapter 6

³Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.⁸Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.⁹For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.¹⁰The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Matthew

Chapter 10

³⁷"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;³⁸and anyone who 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"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.⁴¹Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.⁴²And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not 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.