THEME: CHRISTIAN VIRTUE OF HOSPITALITY AND ITS REWARD

(2 King 4:8-11,13-16; Romans 6:3-4,8-11;  Mathew 10:37-42)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus states that, whoever prefers parents, brothers, sisters and other relations more than him is not worthy of him, Matt.10:37. Jesus is not by this meant that we must not love our families and be concerned about them, for this is a duty which He himself insists upon in Matt.15:4-7.  However, Jesus is rather calling us here to avoid the excessive attachments to whatever relations which restrict our freewill to do God’s work accordingly. ‘Our food is to do God’s will and to complete his work’.

Since true love of God is expressed in true charity, Jesus goes ahead to emphasize on the importance of the virtue of Christian hospitality which is at the heart of our love of God. Here Jesus teaches that we should make every effort to express our love for him by the way we reach out to welcome one another. According to him; “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple will surely not lose his reward.” Matt. 10:37-42.

We see this great virtue being expressed in our today’s first reading from the Second Book of Kings (2Kgs.4:8-16). The passage narrates a wonderful and inspiring story about the prophet Elisha and the Shunemite woman. On one of Elisha journeys he came to the city of Shunem where he was warmly received by a noble and generous lady of that city. The woman knew that Elisha carried the presence of God’s prophetic Spirit, so she invited him to stay with her and her husband anytime he was passing through the area. As time goes, Elisha wanted to do something for her in return. He discovered that the woman and her husband have no son and that both of them were well on in years. This was a serious situation because it was up to the children to care for their parents in their later years. Elisha prophesied and prayed that God would reward her by giving her a son. And the prophecy came to fulfilment.

We must keep doing good even when it appears foolish. The Lord says every good work MUST be rewarded. Don’t give help because of what you expect in return, rather because it’s a necessity. You never know what shall be the outcome of our selfless charitable acts.

WE CELEBRATE AND HONOUR THE 2020 GRADUATES OF OUR PARISH TODAY. FROM THE DEPT OF OUR HEART, WE SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. MAY YOUR FUTURE BE BRIGHT!

MAY GOD GUIDE ALL YOUR STEPS AND INSPIRE YOU TO MAKE RIGHT CHOICES!

HAPPY SUNDAY!