Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(06/28/2026) Gospel Reading: John 6:30-35

 

“He Who Loves Father and Mother More Than Me Is Not Worthy of Me”

 

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.

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo

     Jesus tells us not to let anything or anyone (even those who are closer to us, even our own lives) be more important than He is. He does not make this request for His own glorification. He isn't looking for worldly glory. His life was a life of poverty and simplicity. Besides, He has all the glory He needs. He is, after all, the Son of God. You can't get any higher than that. He asks us to give Him central place in our hearts and in our lives for our own sake and for our own happiness. We'll never really be satisfied in life until we possess and are fully possessed by the life that Christ came to bring us. As St. Augustine said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself O Lord and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”

     There are two themes that flow from this basic truth. I think the first message is that the gospel is not always a “feel good” message. Some people only want to hear peace, love and joy when they come to Church. They want a Church that always makes them “feel good.” Peace, love and joy are wonderful and Jesus' promise of lasting happiness fill us with hope, and all preachers love to preach about these things, but sometimes, like this weekend, the gospel message is not easy to hear. Being willing to give up everything for Christ, even our own lives (and many people did) is a hard message. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran minister who spent the last two years of his life in prison for resisting Hitler, wrote a lot about “cheap grace”, grace that didn't cost so much. Cheap grace means hoping to gain eternal happiness while asking ourselves, “What is the least I can get by with.” One of Bonhoeffer's most memorable lines is “When Christ calls a person, He bids him come and die.” Following Christ can cost us dearly. If we're afraid of that, if we're always looking for a Church that doesn't really challenge us, then we are not wanting to hear Christ.

     The second theme of this weekend's gospel is kindness, especially to those who bring this message of life through death to us. That includes our hierarchy, the priests and religious, but it includes also parents and grandparents, neighbors and friends, teachers and spouses and all who have taught us about Christ and who have been models of faith for us. Most of us didn't get our faith out of a textbook. We got it by God's inspiration and by seeing how others lived it. I believe some of us came to know some wonderful priests when growing up, but most seemed to be stuffy and distant. Our faith came primarily from our parents and those who taught us in school. And still is enriched by people we have known and do know. When you are here faithfully every week at St. Rose of Lima and St. Patrick and you pray and sing from your hearts, our spirits are lifted in prayer. So, this act of kindness to God’s messengers that Jesus promises to reward applies to anyone.

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Meditation: Who or what takes first place in your life - in your daily thoughts, cares, and concerns? God has put us first in his thought, care, and concern for our well-being and future. God loved us first and our love for him is a response to his exceeding kindness and mercy towards us. Even while we were hopelessly adrift through our own sinful pride, rebellion and unbelief, he choose to give us his own beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who laid down his life for our sake - to set us free from slavery to sin, Satan, and death.

Proof of God's unfailing love for us

There is no greater proof of God's love for us than the free-will offering of his Son who shed his blood for us on the cross. His death broke the curse of guilt and condemnation, and won for us pardon and adoption as beloved sons and daughters of God our Father. Through the victory of his cross and resurrection, the Lord Jesus offers us abundant new life through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

The love of God comes first

The Holy Spirit reveals to us the love of the eternal Father and the eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who come to make their home with us and to unite us in a bond of peace and friendship. That is why the Lord Jesus commanded his disciples to give him their undivided loyalty and love above all else. We owe him a debt of gratitude for what he has done for us. The Lord Jesus gives us the assurance and promise that he will raise up our mortal bodies to be like his so that we may fully share in his resurrection for all eternity.

God has no equal - that is why we owe the eternal Father, Son, and Holy Spirit our undivided loyalty, trust, and obedience. Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who they love first and foremost. A true disciple loves God above all else and is willing to forsake all for the Lord Jesus who calls us to follow him. Jesus insists that his disciples give him the loyalty which is due to God, a loyalty which is higher than spouse or kin. It is possible that family and friends can become our enemies, if the thought of them keeps us from doing what we know God wants us to do.

God's compelling love knows no rival

The love of God compels us to choose who or what will be first in our lives. To place any relationship or anything else above God is a form of idolatry. We can allow many different things to take control of our lives and possess us - such as greed and lust for power, possessions, and wealth. But only God's love can set us free to love as he loves - with mercy, kindness, goodness, patience, perseverance, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The first and great commandment is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37). If we pursue the love of God and put his kingdom first in our lives, then he will give us everything we need to sustain us now and in the future as well. Who is the Lord and Master of you life?

True love overflows in kindness and mercy towards others

True love for God compels us to express charity (merciful deeds of kindness and goodness) towards our neighbors who are also loved by God because he created each of them in his image and likeness. Mother Theresa of Calcutta once told a marvelous story about a destitute family who had nothing to eat for days. When news of their impoverished condition came to the Missionary Sisters of Charity, Mother Theresa personally went to their home and brought them some food supplies. The mother of the family immediately divided the food in half and carried it off. When she returned, Mother Theresa asked her, "Where did you go?" She gave the simple answer, "To my neighbors, they are hungry also!" Mother Theresa said, "I was not surprised that she gave - poor people are really very generous. I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we are suffering, we are so focused on ourselves, we have no time for others."

Jesus declared that any kindness shown and any help given to the people of Christ will not lose its reward (Matthew 10:42). Jesus never refused to give to anyone in need who asked for his help. As his disciples we are called to be kind and generous as he is. Jesus sets before us the one goal in life that is worth any sacrifice and that goal is union with God - uniting our heart, mind, and will with his heart and will for our lives. The reward of a life given over to God and obeying his voice is God himself - the source of true peace and joy that lasts forever. Does the love of Jesus Christ compel you to put God first in all you do (2 Corinthians 5:14)?

Lord, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has conceived the things you have prepared for those who love you. Set us ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit, that we may love you in and above all things and so receive the rewards you have promised us through Christ our Lord. (from A Christian's Prayer Book)

read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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