Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 28, 2020
First Reading: 2 Kings 4.8-12a, 14-16
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!"
Psalm 89
1I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.2I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.3You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,4'I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.'" Selah5The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.6For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?7In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.8O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.9You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.10You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.11The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.12You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.13Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.15Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.16They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.17For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.18Indeed, our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.19Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: "I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have exalted a young man from among the people.20I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him.21My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.22No enemy will subject him to tribute; no wicked man will oppress him.23I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries.24My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted.25I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers.26He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.'27I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.28I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail.29I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.30"If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes,31if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands,32I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging;33but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.34I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.35Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness- and I will not lie to David-36that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun;37it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." Selah38But you have rejected, you have spurned, you have been very angry with your anointed one.39You have renounced the covenant with your servant and have defiled his crown in the dust.40You have broken through all his walls and reduced his strongholds to ruins.41All who pass by have plundered 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 turned back the edge of his sword and have not supported him in battle.44You have put an end to his splendor and cast his throne to the ground.45You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with a mantle of shame. Selah46How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?47Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all men!48What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave? Selah49O Lord, where is your former great love, which in your faithfulness you swore to David?50Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,51the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O LORD, with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.52Praise be to the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.
Second Reading: Romans 6.3-4, 8-11
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.
Gospel: Matthew 10.37-42
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.