26 June 2022
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
As Jesus determines to proceed to Jerusalem and to the Cross, there are three responses that He receives. The first is from the Samaritans, who want nothing to do with Jerusalem, and hence do not welcome Jesus and His mission at all. The second is from those who are zealous in offering to follow Jesus, but have not considered the demands of the mission. Jesus simply informs them that such is the poverty of the Messiah that He does not even have a place of rest to call His own. Finally, there are those whom Jesus generously calls to join Him, but who wish to put other (albeit important) concerns before the kingdom of God. Our Lord does not hesitate to reaffirm that the proclamation of the kingdom of God is of the greatest value in our service to our neighbor, and comes first even in the way in which we show honor to those ranked first in honor amongst our neighbors in the fourth commandment.
This week, let us ask for the grace to let the love which Christ shows in the Cross give proper order and direction to our sacrifices and to our ways of serving our neighbors.