Sunday Scripture Readings

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thirteenth sunday

in ordinary time,

June 30

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16; Psalm 89;

Romans 6:3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10:37-42

OUR GOOD NEWS: A remarkable woman who, in caring for the prophet Elisha, anti-cipated Jesus' praise of hospitality. Hospitality is the theme in today's readings, and the unnamed woman in our first selection models this virtue. Forthright and aggressive but also respectful (politely standing at the door of Elisha's room), she took the initiative and dominates the narrative. In a thoroughly male-centered society, she showed herself truly as "a woman of influence," conspicuous for her thoughtfulness in providing food and lodging for Elisha, whom she invited to dinner "with her" (curiously, no mention of her husband!). She then supervised in detail the construction and furnishing of a rooftop room for Elisha's use when passing through the area. Elisha responded to her generously, promising this childless woman an infant within the year. The first reading illustrates the reward for a good deed, and demonstrates the dignity of a woman whose initiative earned her what she most dearly desired. For his part, Elisha is called "a holy man of God" not because of achievements of piety but because he was entrusted with the power-laden word of God, bringing life to the apparently dead child and especially by his faithful proclamation of God's word to his generation. "Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter, more than me is not worthy of me." Today's Gospel begins with a blunt saying challenging us to reorder our values. Excessive and selfish love of parents or children can stunt or even destroy a marriage, and successful child raising involves a progressive letting go of the child beginning at birth. "Taking up the cross" is a common saying among us, but the concept is painful, implying public disgrace. The accused would be dragged through the streets bound and naked, greeted with universal scorn and blows. We're asked at times to be seeming failures for Christ's sake, oblivious to public esteem, prepared to lose our reputation.