Walking with Jesus: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16; Romans 6:3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10:37-42 The last words of the gospel strike a sensitive cord: “Amen. I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” [Matthew 10:42] On face value it sounds wonderful. We like rewards. We like getting something for our hard work or just something as a present. Reading the preceding lines, Jesus says, “And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink ...” [Matthew 10:42] It certainly seems to be the direction that Jesus showed His whole life and taught us to follow: loving, caring, generous, forgiving. We approve. Yet the rest of the reading strikes up a much deeper reaction of insensitivity and downright hurting of those we love: “Whoever loves … more than Me … is not worthy of me.” Jesus gives four examples of this. Is He saying that if I love my parents … my children … more than Jesus … AND if I don’t take up the crosses my life brings and I have to give my life totally, I’m not going to make it...