The document provides commentary and reflections on the Sunday readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. It summarizes the key points of each reading: 1) The first reading is about a woman who shows hospitality to the prophet Elisha and is rewarded with a son. 2) The responsorial psalm sings of God's goodness and protection. 3) The second reading from Romans discusses how baptism calls Christians to "die to sin and live for God." 4) The Gospel reading from Matthew emphasizes welcoming Jesus by welcoming his disciples, even with small acts of kindness. The document then provides suggestions for developing a homily focused on hospitality and welcoming God's messengers.

1. Sunday Readings
Commentary and Reflections
13th Sunday in the Ordinary Time
2 July 2017
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st Reading: 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a
Hospitality
 8 One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of
influence, who pressed him to dine with her. Afterward, whenever
he passed by, he would stop there to dine. 9 So she said to her
husband, "I know that he is a holy man of God. Since he visits us
often, 10 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.“ 11 One day Elisha arrived and stayed in the
room overnight.
Gesture of thanks
 14 Later Elisha asked, "What can we do for her?" Gehazi
answered, "She has no son, and her husband is old.“ 15 Elisha
said, "Call her." He did so, and when she stood at the door, 16
Elisha promised, "This time next year you will be cradling a baby
son."
A simple outline!
The focus is on hospitality.

4. 1st Reading: 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a
Hospitality
8 One day Elisha came to
Shunem, where there was a
woman of influence, who
pressed him to dine with her.
Afterward, whenever he passed
by, he would stop there to dine.
9 So she said to her husband, "I
know that he is a holy man of
God. Since he visits us often, 10
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.“ 11 One
day Elisha arrived and stayed in
the room overnight.
Commentary
 Elisha is prophet who succeeds Elisha in
fighting against the pagan god Baal Melqart.
 Shunem must be somewhere in between
Samaria and Carmel.
 In v.8, an influential woman invites (compells)
him to dine with her. She can afford to host a
visitor.
 V.8 indicates that Elisha’s dropping by her
becomes habitual.
 In v.9, the woman justifies her hospitality: he
is holy man of God (a prophet).
 In v.10, the woman volunteers to do more and
make him feel at home.
 In v.11, Elisha does not just dine with her, but
can sleep in his reserved room (can stay
longer).

5. 1st Reading: 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a
Gesture of thanks
 14 Later Elisha asked,
"What can we do for
her?" Gehazi answered,
"She has no son, and
her husband is old.“ 15
Elisha said, "Call her."
He did so, and when
she stood at the door,
16 Elisha promised,
"This time next year you
will be cradling a baby
son."
 In v.14, Elisha asks his servant
Gehazi what they can give in
return for her hospitality. The in-
between verses 12-13 mention his
name.
 Gehazi gives information about
the couple: no son, old husband
(childless)
 In v.15, Elisha announces the
birth of her son the coming year.
 Elisha is sensitive to her need.
 The woman becomes pregnant.

6. Reflections on the 1st reading
 God can repay our hospitality.
 If we allow a stranger in our meals, we may receive a
great reward.
 Of course, the stranger should exhibit a behavior that
can make the host comfortable. Elisha is seen as a
holy man, worthy of attention.
 Nowadays, we are suspicious of or not comfortable
with strangers, even our friends. We do not take them
in our houses, instead, we entertain them in a resto or
mall.
 Distancing from other people is a modern illness that
does not promote fraternity and charity.
 Is there a way to welcome strangers? They might be
bringing us God’s blessings.

7. Resp. Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19
 R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
 2 The promises of the LORD I will sing forever,
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
3 For you have said, "My kindness is established forever;"
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
 16 Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
17 At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
 18 You are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
19 For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and the Holy One of Israel, our king.

8. Resp. Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19
 R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness
of the Lord.
 2 The promises of the LORD I will sing
forever, through all generations my mouth
shall proclaim your faithfulness.
3 For you have said, "My kindness is
established forever;“ in heaven you have
confirmed your faithfulness.

16 Blessed the people who know the joyful
shout; in the light of your countenance, O
LORD, they walk.
17 At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.

18 You are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
19 For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and the Holy One of Israel, our king.
Commentary
 The psalm is classified as royal
psalm. It ends the Part III of the
Book of Psalms. It is also classified
as individual lament.
 In vv.2-3, the psalmist promises to
proclaim God’s faithfulness until the
end (after saving him from troubles).
 V. 16 affirms as blessed those who
hear God’s message and walk in his
ways.
 V.17 adds to the list of blessed:
rejoicing in God’s name and justice.
 In v.18, the psalmist affirms God’s
prestige and power.
 V.19 explains why: God protects his
people and he is their king (leader).

9. Reflections on the Psalm
 Let us not forget to acknowledge who God is to us,
in times of trouble.
 Let us not forget also to be positive in our view when
we are challenged by life’s difficulties.
 Like the psalmist, we can stay focused on God’s
ways.
 We can still rejoice if we want to. There are endless
reasons for it.
 One of them is that God is in-charge of us. He has
the final say.

10. 2nd reading: Rom 6:3-4, 8-11
Meaning of our baptism
 3 Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? 4 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.
Dead to sin, alive for God
 8 If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live
with him. 9 We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him. 10 As to his death, he died to
sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. 11 Consequently,
you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for
God in Christ Jesus.
The focus is on being alive.

11. 2nd reading: Rom 6:3-4, 8-11
Meaning of our baptism
 3 Are you unaware that we
who were baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his
death? 4 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.
Commentary
 In v.3, Paul wants to
verify if the Christians in
Rome understand the
meaning of their baptism?
The background: they
keep committing sins in
spite of their baptism.
 In v.4, Paul affirms that
through baptism they join
Christ in his death and
later in his resurrection.

12. 2nd reading: Rom 6:3-4, 8-11
Dead to sin, alive for God
 8 If, then, we have died with
Christ, we believe that we shall
also live with him. 9 We know
that Christ, raised from the
dead, dies no more; death no
longer has power over him. 10
As to his death, he died to sin
once and for all; as to his life,
he lives for God. 11
Consequently, you too must
think of yourselves as [being]
dead to sin and living for God
in Christ Jesus.
 In v.8, Paul repeats his point in
v.4, affirming their belief that they
too will live with him, not just live
by themselves.
 Vv.9-10 continue Paul’s reflection
on Christ’s resurrection: he will
not die again. Death has no more
power over him. He died because
of our sin, now lives for God.
 V.11 is a challenge to Christians
to be like Christ: to die to sin (do
not sin) and to live for God.
Meaning, Christians should avoid
committing sins, but live in the
grace of God.

13. Reflections on the 2nd reading
 We must be reminded of the meaning of our baptism.
 We participate in the death and life of Christ.
 We do not live as if we have not been baptized.
 Every violation of God’s laws contradicts the purpose of
our baptism.
 It endangers our future destiny which is eternal life.
 In our parishes, when we ask the priest to baptize our
children, we must take seriously to helping the child grow
up fearing God.
 Parents must facilitate the growth of the faith of their
children, by their behavior and witnessing.

14. Gospel reading: Matthew 10:37-42
 37 "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; 38 and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after
me is not worthy of me.
 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my
sake will find it. 40 "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever
receives me receives the one who sent me.
 41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive
a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because
he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward.
 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little
ones to drink because he is a disciple-- amen, I say to you, he will
surely not lose his reward."
The focus is on receiving Jesus and his chosen ones.

15. Gospel reading: Matthew 10:37-42
 37 "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;
38 and whoever does not
take up his cross and follow
after me is not worthy of me.
 39 Whoever finds his life will
lose it, and whoever loses
his life for my sake will find
it. 40 "Whoever receives you
receives me, and whoever
receives me receives the
one who sent me.
Commentary
 In v.37, Jesus shows himself to us as a
jealous lover, like God in the Old
Testament.
 He wants to be prioritized by us: the
creator first before the creatures.
 In v.38, to be really worthy of him, to show
that he is really the number one in our life,
we must make sacrifices and follow his
teachings.
 V.39 rules out prioritization of self or self-
preservation. If we really make him the
number one, we must be willing to die for
him.
 In v.40, Jesus identifies with them in terms
of hospitality. Those who accept them also
accept Jesus. They must be happy for this.

16. Gospel reading: Matthew 10:37-42
 41 Whoever receives a prophet
because he is a prophet will
receive a prophet's reward,
and whoever receives a
righteous man because he is
righteous will receive a
righteous man's reward.
 42 And whoever gives only a
cup of cold water to one of
these little ones to drink
because he is a disciple--
amen, I say to you, he will
surely not lose his reward."
 Again, in v.41, Jesus talks
about being hospitable to the
prophet (supposedly the
apostles). It reminds of the first
reading. There is a reward for
being hospitable to God’s
missionaries.
 Similarly in v.42, Jesus
assures reward to those who
will be kind to them, even
those who only give them a
glass of water.

17. Reflections on the gospel reading
 Jesus pays attention to the merits gained by the disciples for
making Jesus number one.
 Jesus also pays attention to the merits gained by those who
will show gestures of kindness to them.
 No single act of hospitality will go to waste.
 Jesus wants focus and consistency. He wants to get all our
love, nothing for ourselves, (a little bit exaggerated) but what
you lose and miss will be replaced by rewards.
 Is Jesus your number one priority? Do you believe if you do
your job in the parish like teaching, evangelizing or doing
charity work, you will have reward?
 Don’t you believe that when they agree with your teachings
about God, they are also accepting God in their lives?

18. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading is about hospitality that pays.
 The psalm is about the goodness of the Lord.
 The second reading talks about welcoming the life
given to us in baptism.
 The gospel reading talks about welcoming Jesus who
gives rewards.

19. How to develop your homily / sharing
 Today we must reflect on hospitality. The
important related words to reflect upon are:
 It pays to be hospitable. We may have some
questions or hesitations, but these should not lead
us to outright rejection of them.

20.  The gospel reading encourages his
missionaries to love Jesus more than
anyone else.
 In this way, they can easily make sacrifices,
face difficulties and follow him.
 It also make other people who encounter
them easier to welcome them into their
houses or facilities.
 Missionaries are treated differently from
vendors or business people.

21.  The first reading tells us that God rewards those
who welcome men of God (prophets) and to make
their lives comfortable and rested in our ambit.
 We must be kind to people who spread the Good
News.
 The visitors are on the go; they are sent by God to
fulfill their mission.
 Soon God too will make miracles for us.

22.  Taking into account the Second Reading, it is
unbecoming of a baptized Christian not to welcome
missionaries in their families or communities.
 Paul considers this a sin. He might have referred to other
sins in his writing, but ultimately that sin means not
welcoming Jesus in his death and resurrection. He finds
no meaning in Christ’s paschal mystery.
 Sin is still a life of selfishness, “self-first” mentality. It is
having a faith that is actually dead. It has only a
semblance of being alive. This kind of life (life of sin)
does not bring us to eternal life.

23.  Are our communities welcoming?
 Is it possible to have communion among the members or
the members of the other communities?
 Is something facilitating communion?
 In the New Evangelization, we must throw wide open our
doors, the doors of the church and convents to all.
 We accept even sinners, because we believe God
awaits their conversion. We believe that we are God’s
instruments to help them change themselves.
 What kind of parish do you have? Do you feel some
effort to promote communion?

24.  In the Eucharist, Jesus welcomes us all who
welcome him in his Word and Sacrament.
 The Eucharist teaches us to be thankful,
because in spite of our sinfulness God still
welcomes us who are repentant and making
sacrifices for him.
 Communion of communities is not complete
without Jesus in the Eucharist.

25. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Ability to take risk when
welcoming visitor-
missionaries
 Promotes unity and
communion among
people
 Aware of the implications
of his/her baptism
 Responsible Christians
 Able to make sacrifices
 Inhospitable
 Unwelcoming
 Disguising as missionaries,
actually they are vendors out
there to get your money
 Unable to appreciate God’s
blessings
 Always looking for self-
fulfillment
 Unable to give himself/herself
to others without expecting
anything in return

26. Suggested Songs
 Sharing
 https://www.facebook.com/ofmphil.org/videos/1473820322638840/

27.  “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)