Thirteenth Sunday of ordinary time -- Year A

First: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16; Second: Rm 6:3-4, 8-11; Gospel: Mt 10:37-42

THEME of the READINGS

A focal point of this Sunday’s liturgy is the dignity of the human person and the Christian. In the Gospel it is written: "he who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me," which in positive terms is equivalent to saying: "he who takes up his cross and follows me is worthy of me." The worthy Christian is the one who is prepared to renounce self and possessions in favor of a superior value. In the first reading we are shown human worthiness as manifest in hospitality to strangers, one of the values most appreciated in the ancient world. Finally, the Letter to the Romans gives a vigorous account of the new life we receive through baptism, which makes us worthy of being incorporated in the mystery of Christ the Redeemer.

DOCTRinal MESSAGE

Human dignity is highly rated in today’s society, even if this expression can have very different meanings. We only speak of dignity with reference to man, not to inferior beings, nor with reference to God. It is true that we say that God is worthy of praise, of adoration… but we never speak of "God’s worthiness." Man alone is worthy or unworthy, as a human being, as a believer, as a professional, etc. With this expression we mean to indicate the elevation, the nobility and the exaltation of the human being who rises above other worldly creatures and the logical correspondence of human actions with these characteristics of his being. When this correspondence is lacking, man degenerates and becomes unworthy of himself and of his high vocation.

In today’s first reading, taken from the Book of Kings, we find a trait predominant in the human concept and dignity of that time: hospitality, particularly with strangers. The wealthy Shunamite who welcomes Elisha into her house shows herself to be worthy by nature, according to the social concepts of the time. Today we could translate this trait of human dignity using terms like solidarity, welcome to immigrants or social charity. The dignity of which the Gospel speaks consists in following Christ, and thus being prepared to leave everything (father, mother, children…) in order to follow him, bravely and decisively taking up one’s cross each day. This is a step forward in the dignity of man, not based on human nature, but on the revelation and grace of God. This step is taken by means of baptism, by which we are submerged in Christ’s paschal mystery and we participate in God’s life in our mortal bodies and in the here and now of our personal history and of our society (second reading).

To those who conform their lives with both their human and their Christian dignity, a rich reward is promised which surpasses human possibilities. To the Shunamite, who was barren and whose husband was old, Elisha promised the reward of embracing a son within one year. Jesus, for his part, promises eternal life to all those who are prepared to lose their life on earth. He also promises intimacy with him and with the Father to those who practice Christian hospitality and charity. And St. Paul in his letter to the Romans maintains that the baptized are already here on earth "alive to God in Jesus Christ."

PASTOral SUGGESTIONS

The meaning of human and Christian dignity. Since so much is being said about dignity but giving it such different meanings, it is appropriate to explain what the Gospel and the Church understand by this word. Moreover, from what has been said above, we will insist on the foundation of this dignity. It is founded on the order among creatures (the image and likeness of God), and it is founded on revelation as adopted sons of God. This dignity is therefore deeply rooted in God’s plan for man and not in anthropological concepts born from the human mind. All this will enable us to clarify certain realities of today’s mentality or human institutions, which proclaim themselves as such in the name of human dignity, based almost exclusively on notions of freedom and autonomy, but which in fact attack authentic dignity. For example, abortion, drug dependency, sexual promiscuity, blasphemy, the lack of religious practice, etc. Freedom is certainly an element of human dignity (it might perhaps be necessary here to explain freedom from and freedom for), but it is not the only one. Intelligence and discernment also go with it, along with the love for truth and good, the will to overcome and to surrender.

Solidarity. The Church and governmental and non-governmental organizations do much in this field to respond to the almost infinite needs of our world. This international solidarity is very good, and it must be increasingly promoted. With all this, I prefer now to refer to that "small solidarity," which knocks at our door every day. Solidarity with the family next door who asks a favor of you, with the migrant who comes to you looking for a job; with third world nationals who sell flowers or paper tissues at the traffic lights; with the handicapped person who is sure to be found in your parish as in many others; with a few of the projects of the parish priest or the parish pastoral council; with a some of the school activities in which your children are involved, etc. The two forms of solidarity complement one another. We must show the greater one, Jesus would tell us, without failing to show the lesser.

Source: http://www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2004-05/21-13/CICLOA.html by P. ANTONIO IZQUIERDO L.C. (1948-2013)

[참고: 이 파일은 저서명 "가톨릭 교회의 말씀 전례에 따른 성경공부 해설서"(엮은이: 소순태, 출판사: 가톨릭출판사)의 각주의 연장으로 마련되었습니다].