GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Sunday - July 02, 2023

 

Sunday - July 02, 2023

It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards one’s progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken.

- St. Francis Xavier

July 2, 2023

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 97

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a

 

One day Elisha came to Shunem,

where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her.

Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine.

So she said to her husband, "I know that Elisha is a holy man of God.

Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof

and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp,

so that when he comes to us he can stay there."

Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.

 

Later Elisha asked, "Can something be done for her?"

His servant Gehazi answered, "Yes!

She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years."

Elisha said, "Call her."

When the woman had been called and stood at the door,

Elisha promised, "This time next year

you will be fondling a baby son."

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                          Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

 

R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

The promises of the LORD I will sing forever,

through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.

For you have said, "My kindness is established forever;"

in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;

in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.

At your name they rejoice all the day,

and through your justice they are exalted.

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

You are the splendor of their strength,

and by your favor our horn is exalted.

For to the LORD belongs our shield,

and to the Holy One of Israel, our king.

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

Reading II                                                                 Rom 6:3-4, 8-11

 

Brothers and sisters:

Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into his death?

We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,

so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead

by the glory of the Father,

we too might live in newness of life.

 

If, then, we have died with Christ,

we believe that we shall also live with him.

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;

death no longer has power over him.

As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;

as to his life, he lives for God.

Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin

and living for God in Christ Jesus.

 

Alleluia         

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation;

announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                                       Mt 10:37-42

 

Jesus said to his apostles:

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,

and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

and whoever does not take up his cross

and follow after me is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds his life will lose it,

and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

 

"Whoever receives you receives me,

and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet

will receive a prophet's reward,

and whoever receives a righteous man

because he is a righteous man

will receive a righteous man's reward.

And whoever gives only a cup of cold water

to one of these little ones to drink

because the little one is a disciple—

amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."

 

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What matters most to you?

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus emphasizes the importance of keeping our eyes on him and always making him our top priority. Nothing else matters as much as our relationship with God. This means following Jesus wherever he leads, doing everything his way, all the way, every day, giving him our 100% (no excuses for being mediocre in our faith), laying down our lives in service to others like he did.

 

Laying down our lives means making sacrifices, such as giving our cup of cold water to someone who’s thirsty. It means receiving someone into our busy schedules and listening for the prophet in him; for example: What is God saying to us through this person?

 

When we refuse to lay down our lives for others, we reject the Cross of Christ and his sufferings, which he submitted to for our sake. This does not mean, however, that we can never say no to others. Jesus wants to lead us away from the harm of abuse or demands that are sinful or the enabling of unhealthy behaviors. Saying no in such cases is yet another Way of the Cross.

 

When we truly follow Christ, we can receive all that he is and all that he has for us. When we let go of our fears and personal goals, letting Jesus lead us into new places and new ways of handling problems, we discover new life in Christ. His ways are always far better than what we had feared would happen.

 

This is the difference between a mediocre faith and a life in Christ that is full of adventures, miracles, surprising solutions, healing, victories, and realizing how very precious and important we are to God.

 

Prayer

 

Beloved Father: In the name of Jesus, give me the courage to do good all the time. May my prejudices not prevent me from being an instrument of Your love towards others. Amen.

 

 

God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”