2026-06-28 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

 

Opening prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fountain of every blessing,
I adore You, I love You, and with a lively sorrow for my sins,  
I offer You this poor heart of mine.  
Make me humble, patient, pure, and wholly obedient to Your will.  
Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in You and for You.  
Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions;  
give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs,  
Your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death.  
Within Your Heart I place my every care.
In every need let me come to You with humble trust, saying:
“Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.”
Amen. 

 

Practice of Faith from last week

1. If you are weighed down by a way that someone has hurt you, focus the eyes of your heart on the gracious gift of God's mercy, which is vastly disproportionate to what we deserve
2. Consider how you can extend that mercy to others.

 

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a

True discipleship prepares an opening for God's grace to work in our lives. In today's passage we see how welcoming Elisha into her house, God grants her a son that she longed to have, this  highlights a spiritual principle: when we make room for God in our lives, we receive far more than we could ever offer

 

Key Elisha Miracles in 2 Kings 4

• The Oil of the Widow (2 Kings 4:1-7): Elisha miraculously multiplies a widow's small jar of oil so she can sell it, pay off her debts, and save her sons from being sold into slavery.
• The Promise of a Son (2 Kings 4:8-17): A wealthy woman from Shunem shows profound hospitality to Elisha, building a special room for him to stay. In return, Elisha promises she will bear a son, despite her and her husband's old age.
• Raising the Shunemite’s Son (2 Kings 4:18-37): When the woman's son tragically dies of a sudden illness, she seeks out Elisha. The prophet goes to the boy and raises him from the dead - a powerful foreshadowing of Christ raising Lazarus or the widow's son at Nain from dead.
• The Barley Loaves (2 Kings 4:42-44): Feeding hundreds with twenty barley loaves and have plenty left over - a powerful foreshadowing of Christ feeing 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish.

Psalm 89

Psalm 89 celebrates God's promise to establish David’s throne forever. While the earthly Davidic kingdom eventually collapsed, God's steadfast love remains established forever and finds its ultimate, eternal fulfillment in Jesus.
The psalm swings from glorious praise to lament when God's promises seem broken or delayed. Which tells us we need to trust and wait, because God’s plans often take generations to unfold

Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 

In St Paul’s letters to Romans, sin is an enslaving power. Paul does not imagine sin as separation, brokenness, or as moral imperfection. Sin is that power of Satan that vies with the Creator for control of creation to such an extent that Paul can speak of humanity’s having been “enslaved to sin” (Romans 6:6).
To be enslaved to sin is to be appropriated, body and soul. The hallmark of slavery is that slaves do not have control over their own bodies. The enslaver may force the enslaved into labor, inflict corporal punishment at will, or assault the enslaved sexually with no fear of prosecution for a crime. 
In Romans, St Paul argues that sin’s mastery over humankind has been broken by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Matthew 10:37-42 

In Matthew 10:37, Jesus is not demanding hatred for family (this appears in Luke 14:16 which says  “If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple)
Matthew uses the Greek word "Phileo" or Love which we recognise in words like philosophy (love of wisdom) and philanthropy (love of humanity), whereas Luke uses the Greek word "Miseo' or detest or hate which we recognise in words like misanthrope (A person who dislikes or distrusts humanity) or misogyny (hatred, dislike, or prejudice against women)

Matthew says we must love Christ above all people and things - this detachment from people or things means we have to let go of our ego - try not to control or possess your spouse or your children - let God be the ultimate center of your life. Putting Christ first reorients and purifies all human relationships, ensuring they find their proper meaning in relation to God. 
But our human nature demands we take charge, control our circumstances so when we place people or things above God, we inadvertently block our path to true salvation
Finally in today's reading, Jesus says to welcome a disciple is to welcome Jesus himself. This reminds me of the times when people in the hospital are indifferent to prayer and/or the Holy Eucharist - they are not rejecting the Eucharistic minister but in fact they are rejecting Jesus himself.

Practice of Faith for this week

1. Consider those whom you love and 'put first' - what are some ways that you can centre that care in Christ's love? Ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you.
2. When committing to acts of charity, reflect on hoe you can channel the love you have for those nearest you into love of neighbor. Perhaps your family has felt the impact of a particular experience or illness that can inspire your services and giving

Closing prayer

July is the month of the Sacred Blood of Jesus - let's end with a prayer by St Catherine of Siena
Precious Blood, ocean of divine mercy: Flow upon us!  
Precious Blood, most pure offering: Procure us every grace!  
Precious Blood, hope and refuge of sinners: Atone for us!  
Precious Blood, delight of holy souls: Draw us! Amen.