13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); July 2, 2023

2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a.  Ps 89.  Rom 6:3-4,8-11.  Mt 10:37-42

Deacon Jim McFadden

         John the Evangelist began his Gospel by proclaiming the Word of God became Flesh in Jesus, which means Jesus is divine.  The first line in Mark’s Gospel is that “Jesus Christ (is) the Son of God.  Taken together this  means that Jesus Christ is Lord, which has profound implications regarding  our ultimate priorities.  That means our family nor  Caesar or any of his descendants is Lord.  Jesus Christ, who is both divine and human, the One who gathers all of humanity into His Church family, who cleanses the Temple making Himself the new center of right praise and worship, the One who fought and conquered  our ultimate enemies of sin and death—he is the One to whom final allegiance is due.  Christians are those who submit their ultimate allegiance to Him and Him alone.

            This is a tough teaching for young people to accept especially in regards to family.  But, that is exactly what Jesus is demanding of his disciples: that they put love for him above family affection.  He says unequivocally: “He who loves father or mother…son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:37).  Jesus is certainly not saying that we should undervalue our love for our parents or children; after all, the 4^th Commandment states that we should honor our father and mother if we are going to be in right relationship with God.  But, our Lord knows that if we put family bonds in first place, that can deviate from the true good of doing the Father’s will.  Sometimes family dynamics and priorities can be in opposition to God’s purposes, which can lead us astray from following the Way of Jesus.  When love of family supersedes our love for Jesus, that can’t possibly end well.  While the family at its best is the domestic Church, there are situations in which family preferences intermingled with choices can be at variance with Gospel values.  When, instead, love for parents and children are grounded, inspired, and purified by the love of the Lord Jesus, then we can grow deeper into our love for family.  Our love for parents and children becomes wholly fruitful within the family and spills over into the wider society because that love is participating in the divine Love: that’s why it is fruitful.  Let’s be clear: true love for Jesus requires a true love for parents and children, but if we seek our family interests first, this is a subtle form of idolatry and leads us down the wrong path.

            More to it, Jesus says to his disciples: “he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (v. 38). This means following along the path he himself trod, without looking for compromises or shortcuts.  There is no true love without the Cross, that is, without a personal price to pay.  Why’s that?  In order to do the Father’s will, we have to say “no” to our egocentric impulses, which means dying to our (False) self. We cannot love God or our neighbor if we’re operating self-referentially.  I think accepting our Cross is embracing the consequences of doing the Father’s will no matter what.  When we do, the love of God pours into our hearts as we share in the loop of grace.

            We see this played out in families, when many fathers and mothers sacrifice so much for their children and they bear these sacrifices for their good.  They bear their Cross because they love their children.  The Cross for them is not frightening when it is borne with Jesus because he is always at our side to support us, especially when life really gets difficult; his presence in our heart and soul gives us strength and courage.  With and in Him, we can get through anything.

            Jesus is calling us to die to a willful, egocentric lifestyle to a willing surrender to the Father’s will.  Jesus admonishes the former when he says, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake—will find it” (v. 39).  This is the Gospel paradox.  But, in recent years we have many public examples of those who have been generous with their lives for the good of others.  Just think of how many people sacrificed themselves, even risking their lives, by helping others in need during the pandemic.  Sacrificial, self-giving generosity can be done in Jesus, who is Love Incarnate.  And, more to it, the fulness of life and joy is found in giving oneself for the Gospel and our brothers and sisters with openness to their uniqueness, welcoming them as they are, and appreciating their inherent goodness as being children of God.

            As we live this way, we will experience God’s generosity and gratitude to the very core of our being. And, we can share his Presence and Life with others.  Jesus reminds us that “He who receives you receives me…And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water…shall not lose his reward” (vs. 40,42).  Whatever we do to our brothers and sisters, no matter how small the gesture, if it is done in love and service, that promotes the Kingdom of God—that’s what a disciple of Jesus does. Amen.