July 2, 2017, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily

It appears that summer has finally arrived in the Flathead Valley! And with that comes warmer temperatures, sunny days, and visitors. It is a season of patience with increased traffic, longer lines, and waiting. It is easy to forget that the beauty we appreciate belongs to everybody, not just those of us who live here. With that introduction, I would like to welcome all the visitors with us today, and thank you for spending time with us here at Risen Christ.
At the center of our gospel reading is Jesus’ startling statement that the only way we have life is to lose it. We lose our life by choosing to love Jesus even above family and by serving others, even the “little ones.” Connecting the Gospel to the First Reading, we see where the Shunemite woman served the prophet Elisha and provided for his needs; so that by serving she in turn received the gift of life. We are reminded that whoever is willing to risk and to reach out to meet even the most basic needs of a disciple will receive a just reward (Mt 10:42).
Having heard today’s readings we might wonder what it all relates too. The readings relate to Jesus giving His final instructions to is his disciples as they are making the transition to go out into the world to preach the Good News of the Kingdom. Some of these sayings focus on the challenges involved in discipleship, while others announce a reward for all who receive those whom Jesus has sent – “He who welcomes you, welcomes me, and he who welcomes me, welcomes Him who sent me.” Welcoming the Lord’s messenger is welcoming the Lord Himself. Jesus asks His disciples to be willing to give up parents, children, natural relationships, kinships, the world, and even their own lives.
The reality of early Christian discipleship always had the potential to be harsh. Hard choices had to be made and these choices could not affect one’s relationship with one’s family. Family membership, identity, support, and care were held in the highest honor by the culture of Jesus’ time. Family was everything. The teaching of Jesus does not say that one should value and love family less, but it does say that one must value and love Jesus more. If ever one had to choose between family or Jesus, the choice always had to be Jesus. This was the true test of discipleship, and some would find it impossible!
Disciples must know that the way of discipleship is not a way of glory, power, and wealth. It is, at its core, the way of the cross (Mt 10:38). Without the cross, there is no resurrection. Without death, there is no new life. For a disciple, what really constitutes life will appear like death to others, and what others see as death will be life for a disciple (Mt 10:39). Discipleship is fundamentally a counter-cultural way to live. The disciple represents Jesus on earth. Therefore, whoever receives a disciple in effect actually receives Jesus. In turn, whoever receives Jesus will actually be receiving God (Mt 10:40).
The date of June 29, the Feast of Peter and Paul is usually reserved for Ordinations. The gospel reading heard today is primarily used to remind those entering the vocation of the Clergy or religious life, that Jesus; rather than family, self, or worldly possessions, is now the forefront of their lives. It is especially fitting that St. Paul reminds not only clergy, but all of us, in the reading from Romans; “You too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.” Today has special meaning for me as I was ordained 5 years ago today to serve the people of the Diocese of Helena.
Our task is to understand the meaning of the gospel from the standpoint of how we are to live our lives. We can be very good at disciplining ourselves to do the right thing, to follow the rules, to do what we have to do. We do that, and we feel a little bit confident that we have a place somewhere, someday, in heaven. It’s a way of living that is mostly directed toward the future. We endure things, we put up with things, struggle with things knowing that somehow if we do all of this there will be something later that will be good for us. 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. 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 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. 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.
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. 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.
In closing, thank you to everybody for spending this day with us, may God grant you a safe journey in your travels, and have a Blessed 4th of July!