Walking with Jesus: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

For Sunday, June 28, 2026

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16; Romans 6:3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10:37-42


Today’s readings go into more detail about last week’s readings. Last week we learned the Christian way of love and heard what it means to follow Jesus, and today an important ingredient is added: We are promised God’s help. Satan so often scares us with his assurance that God doesn’t care about us and hides things from us despite His promises. It’s amazing how this goes along with Satan’s temptation of Eve, who brings temptation to Adam who succumbs to Satan’s overwhelming appeal to listen only to him — he’s right; he knows — God never tells us or cares about us. When we look at the patterns of our temptations, they're the same.

Today’s readings also emphasize the role of our own baptism. Paul explains that our baptism enables us to participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus. As we were “plunged” into the water we were buried with Christ in death; as we emerged from the water we rose with Him into a new life. We died to sin and live in a new life of holiness. The Gospel continues with examples of the cost of discipleship: Life is not fun and happiness; we walk the talk. So our reflection today is matching our actions to our words — living God’s love. This means doing what we say we’ll do and backing up our promises with actual behaviors rather than making empty claims. We look to the readings for help on our journey to the Lord and with the Lord.

In the story of the Shunemite woman and Elisha in the first reading, we are reminded of Abram (Abraham) and Sarah. Sarah is beyond her childbearing years but God has made a covenant with Abraham to become the father of a multitude of nations, and He promises a son. “Abraham fell facedown and laughed as he said to himself, ‘Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years? Can Sarah give birth at ninety?’” [Genesis 17:17] When we look at today’s story, the narratives are quite different. Today the principal character is a woman, not as in Abraham’s story. In fact today the woman’s husband never appears on the scene, and he is the one who is “getting on in years.” And today the promise to the woman is made as a reward for her generosity, not her faith in God. The prophet here seems to act in a manner independent of divine direction. Abraham’s son carries out the hope of a future nation. The son of the Shunemite carries no such importance — he is the reward for kindness to a prophet. In our lives, how prevalent is our response to God’s generosity?

Paul encourages the Roman community to be aware of the meaning and significance of their new life in Jesus Christ. It is by baptism that they have been initiated into the Christian community and Christian life. This means they have a new identity and a new community. Baptism is the focal point: It is both a dying to a life lived outside of God’s influence, a life about self — what I want — me, not others — sin — and now, a rebirth into a new life of love. It is a share in Jesus’ own death and resurrection and a promise of eternal life with God.

In the first part of the Gospel, Matthew centers on the unsurpassable value of following Jesus. Now this does not exclude the love of family, but directs our attention to the origin of all blessings — and shows God’s care, love and help to live in love. This love, realizing God’s constant presence, enriches — hopefully — our love of family, neighbors, coworkers, all of God’s people. In Matthew’s time, there was a tremendous amount of pressure issued by relatives and others to renounce their Jewishism. Following Jesus’ way was neither attractive nor easy. “Taking up the cross” meant living Jesus and His gospel, which includes the shame and suffering the cross represented.  

So I reflect on:

• Am I embarrassed of being Christian and living Jesus’ commands of love — and, I add, not just sometimes, but all the time? When convenient and/or inconvenient? Why?
• Do I read Jesus’ words as a broad command, or as something I don’t really have to think about too much?

Sacred Space 2026 states:

“At first glance today’s readings seem to have Jesus in a rather callous frame of mind. One suspects you were indicating, Lord, that loving You will put all other relationships in their proper place. ‘Get your priorities right’ would be a shorthand version of your message today.”