13TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME HOMILY – YEAR A 2026
HOSPITALITY AND OUTREACH
Mt 10.34-42 2Kings 4.8-11,13-16 Rom 6.3-4,8-11
On goes the call to discipleship, with the sobering reminder from Jesus that this is not a highway or stairway to heaving without any challenges or blocks along the way! The crosses of life are real, not imaginary, and priorities need to be identified.
Judgement in the end will be based on simple things. The cup of cold water for the person who is thirsty, is a classic example, as we think of Matthew’s final scene of the last judgement, referring to concern and action to respond to the hungry, the thirsty, the materially needy, the sick, the imprisoned, otherwise known as the corporal works of mercy, in Christian tradition!
So, it’s not just about water, of course, but a reminder of discipleship being about hospitality and service of others, not just looking after ourselves, and keeping out of trouble. There is a call to connect with the broader community here, and not just stick with family and friends with whom we are comfortable.
In fact, the Jerome Biblical Commentary mentions a distortion called ‘amoral familism’, where family came first, at the cost of all other relationships, and no concern expressed for anyone outside of the family circle. We see it in our world, where sometimes parents wish to protect their children from the big bad world and even normal socialising, by joining groups which are very much controlled, where conformity is demanded, and decisions made by authoritarian leaders, rather than allowing personal choice and discernment about what is right and wrong, learning to express one’s own opinions, and the development of individual conscience stymied as a result. Surely this is what being human is all about?
It can be counterproductive anyway, as individuals grow up and seek to engage with the broader world and be active members of society, where they need to make their own choices about life in general, work and relationships, and faith, for that matter. There is a far better chance of becoming mature and well adjusted, where there is proper guidance along the way, but also growing freedom allowed for personal decision making, and growth in general.
Jesus points out that there are hard decisions to be made along the way, as we follow him, but also insists that it is worth the effort, and that breaking away from family, not to deny the importance of family roots, ties and obligations. But, in the end, we have to take responsibility for our own decisions and their consequences, rather than blame others for our problems, as can be easy to do!
Also, it would be a mistake to take a pessimistic view, as expressed in the old prayer referring to life as a ‘valley or veil of tears’, because, yes, there are crosses to be confronted and carried, but the sorrows are also balanced by the joys of life, and the happiness experienced at the high points. We just have to accept that the ups and downs are all part of the human experience in normal life.
In today’s Gospel, there is a cascade effect, with high Christology, as the commentary puts it, whereby Jesus identifies, not only with the Father who has sent him, but also with the poor and the lowly, as with ‘What you do to the least of these, you did to me’. Then he provides the commission to hospitality, welcome and inclusion for all. In between, it is the responsibility of a disciple to be of service to others, in his name and given his authority. It’s not only just about heavenly rewards at the end, but also about finding fulfilment in this life, as we strive to build the kingdom Jesus proclaims here and now.
As Brendan Byrne SJ says: “The theological dimensions of Jesus’ statement – ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me, welcome the one who sent me’ – are profound: the stranger who stands before us comes not simply as an emissary and representative of Christ, but of the Father who sent Christ into the world. In dealing with this person, we are dealing with our God.”
And this theme can readily be translated into the way in which refugees and asylum seekers should be treated, with welcome, hospitality and care, rather than being labelled as opportunists suiting themselves, when clearly that is not the case, as most come in desperation, and why should they not seek a better life, in safety and freedom!
Claude Mostowik MSC adds: “Jesus cannot be welcomed if we stay at home and neve encounter strangers. We are to bring God with us when crossing the thresholds of division and the unfamiliar. Hospitality reminds us to live out Christian call to turn outwards, to reach out, to love our neighbour, whoever that might be. It reminds us to encounter and receive Jesus in our lives through the other person, known or unknown, alike or different, in a new way.” He then quotes Joan Chittister OSB, 90 year old Benedictine nun and theologian, who says: “Hospitality is the way we come out of ourselves. It is the first step towards dismantling the barriers of the world. Hospitality is the way we turn a prejudiced world around, one heart at a time.”
The Gospel is clear enough to me, then, that openness and hospitality are fundamental values to be practised by those who profess to be Christian, even moreso than compassionate humanitarians, whom I commend as well!
john hannon 28th June 2026