Word from the Pastor

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Consider your selves dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ.

Dear parish family,​

The theme for this 13th Sunday in ordinary time is WELCOMING and HOSPITALITY. The biblical readings emphasize the need of welcoming others or the stranger. But, it is Saint Paul, the Apostle of the Nations, who gives us the key to reading and understanding the message for this Sunday: “Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ.” Once in Christ, we are a new Creation, called to act in a totally new way.

In the first reading, the prophet Elisha is welcomed by a woman from Shunem. This anonymous stranger welcomes the homeless prophet and is very generous towards him because she recognized in him a man of God. In her heart, however, she secretly carries deep suffering and great frustration. According to her, there is no solution. She has no children and her husband is an old man. In return, she is blessed. The prophet Elisha promises her that she will have a son. His despair turns to joy.

Welcomed with joy and honor, Elisha understands in turn how important it is to be attentive to the needs of the Shunammite. Listening to her confidences, and sharing her joys and sorrows was also part of the welcome. She made some expenses to accommodate her guest. But beyond the quantity or the luxury of the means, the important thing is the quality of the reception and the exchanges that it gives way to. This conviction of Christians is rooted in the Old Testament: through the people we meet, it is God who comes to us; it is God whom we welcome or reject. The Shunamite of the 8th Century BC could easily meet the criteria that the Master imposes on his own: “by your welcome and your brotherly love, they will recognize that you are my disciples”

This Sunday’s gospel teaches us about the importance of hospitality. Jesus’ message is clear. He instructs his apostles on their calling and vocation. The first step is the reference to the first Commandment: to love and prefer God above all. The Father’s will take absolute priority in their choices, decisions, and actions. God must be number One in their lives. Jesus makes it very clear that our love for him must come before all family ties. “He who loves his father, mother, his brothers, his sisters, and his children more than me is not worthy of me.” Jesus’ disciples must follow him and be ready to sacrifice everything for him. In return, anyone who welcomes them or welcomes strangers, or those in need welcomes God himself.

In sum, the Lord calls all baptized to be disciples and missionaries. As disciples, we follow him. As missionaries, we must announce him. To welcome Christ, to prefer him to everything, to be inhabited by him, this is what is proposed to us. Jesus ends this sermon by telling the disciples: “whoever gives a drink of water to one of these little ones in his capacity as disciple, amen I say to you, will not remain without reward.” At the Eucharistic table, God welcomes us, then he sends us. To welcome and to love bring more joy to the heart than all the treasures in the world.

Have a blessed week!

Fr. Jean Jadotte
Pastor