13th Sunday Ordinary Time June 28, 2026

Readings: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a Romans 5:12-15   Matthew 10:26-33

The reading from the Second Book of Kings tells the story of Elisha repaying the kindness of a women who had no son. If we have read the Scriptures before, then we know that this woman of Shunem will have a son and later that son will die but Elisha will bring the son back to life. God promises the Virgin Mary a Son and later that Son dies and then we have the resurrection.

The Letter to the Romans reminds us that we are baptized into the death of Christ so that we too share in the Resurrection. Very often we may think that our baptism brings us life, without remembering that it first requires us to die. We are to die to sin so that we can live in Christ. All of us know the struggle to die to sin. It is rare to meet someone who has died completely to sin, but there are saints who seem to have done that. Most of us continue to struggle with sin until our death, when we shall pass into the bright light of life.

So Matthew’s Gospel today tells us to take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus. What can taking up the cross mean other than the struggle to live completely with the Lord. This is a struggle not only against sin, but in a very positive way, to live in God’s love every moment of our lives. The Psalms tell us that we must turn away from evil and do good. It is not enough just to turn away from evil. We must also do good.

The only way to good is to receive the grace of the Lord and to share that grace with others, such as in a cup of cold water! There are so many little ways that we can share God’s blessings in our lives. They are just little ways, the way of being thoughtful and of service to others. We don’t need anything big. Love is most often a gift of the small awareness and service to others.

If we are faithful to Christ, He is always faithful to us. Even when we are not faithful, He is. Let us walk in the way of the Lord.