WE ARE DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE FOR GOD IN CHRIST

13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Universalis

Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it 

First Reading  2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16 This is a holy man of God; let him rest here

One day as Elisha was on his way to Shunem, a woman of rank who lived there pressed him to stay and eat there. After this he always broke his journey for a meal when he passed that way. She said to her husband, ‘Look, I am sure the man who is constantly passing our way must be a holy man of God. Let us build him a small room on the roof, and put him a bed in it, and a table and chair and lamp; whenever he comes to us he can rest there.’ One day when he came, he retired to the upper room and lay down. He said to his servant Gehazi, ‘Call our Shunammitess. Tell her this: “Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us, what can we do for you? Is there anything you would like said for you to the king or to the commander of the army?”’ But she replied, ‘I live with my own people about me.’ ‘What can be done for her then?’ he asked. Gehazi answered, ‘Well, she has no son and her husband is old.’ Elisha said, ‘Call her.’ The servant called her and she stood at the door. This time next year,’ he said ‘you will hold a son in your arms.’

Responsorial Psalm: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord

Second Reading 6:3-4,8-11 

When we were baptised we went into the tomb with Christ, so that we too might live a new life

When we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life. 

But we believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him: Christ, as we know, having been raised from the dead will never die again. Death has no power over him any more. When he died, he died, once for all, to sin, so his life now is life with God; and in that way, you too must consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Matthew 10:37-42 Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. CDR

‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me. 

‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward. 

‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’ 

Loving Father I will sing for ever of your love. Father anyone who loses his life for the sake of your kingdom and for Christ sake will find it. Loving Father give me a selfless heart willing to be at service in your house and to humanity. Remove all forms of selfish act from my heart. Christ died and was raised from the dead. Death has no power over Christ. He died to sin. I also should consider myself dead to sin, but alive for God in Christ. 

Father give me your Holy Spirit and a heart willing to sacrifice - to be like Christ my Master. As I take up my daily cross may I follow in Christ footsteps that I may be worthy of him who died that I might live. 

Jesus I trust in you, thank you for loving me. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God’s Angels and Saints pray for me. My Angle Guardian pray for me. 

Pray the Holy Rosary : Ave Maria. Hail Mary full of grace.