13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 2/7/2023 - Gospel: Mt 10: 37-42
God Holy Name
When a closely-knit family becomes a domestic church. We hope the domestic church model would make alive the Christian message, and would deepen the faith of its members. However, the family domestic church model can't stand alone. It must link to the local parish Church to make sure; that their faith living is in solidarity with the universal Church. It is the Church Jesus had established and handed it over to his Apostles. The Church is established upon the person of Jesus himself. There are benefits in actively involved in the local Church. The greatest one of all would be reducing the risk of one's own family traditions, which could potentially have placed human values above God. Following Jesus means rejecting what is contrary to his teaching, even if rejection belongs to family tradition. This teaching may lead to misunderstanding among people who worship other forms of spiritual beings. For ancestors worshippers, they believe worshipping ancestors is the right thing to do. They don't know that this belief places mortals above the Divine. The rejection of one's family traditions doesn't mean denying one's family background, but rather placing their family traditions in a proper place of honour. This correctness would give benefits all people involved.
Having faith in Jesus could potentially change a person from the inside out. Their vision of life is widened. Their spirituality is uplifting from worshipping mortals to the Divine, God the Most High. Their way of life is changed. Their relationships with others and with God are purified. They now no more pray to mortals, but to the Divine. The forth Commandment requires to honour parents both the living and the dead. Before they prayed to their ancestors. They now pray for them. This implies their ancestors now, through their prayers, receive God's blessing. They also realize that without God; there is no ancestor. Jesus tells his disciples, that God must be the first priority in life. All other created beings, including father and mother, or brother and sister; are all God's creation. Worshiping God is not simply a right thing to do, but it is a loving noble act of responding to God's love. God's heart comes to our hearts.
There have been misunderstanding about the person of Jesus. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is? They replied: 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets' Mt 16:13-20. Jesus told his disciples; the way in which one views a person who to be, is also the way in which one shows respect for that person. Jesus implies that recognizing him means recognizing the Father who sent him. Jesus extends this welcoming gesture to his disciples. A friendly relationship act one has for his disciples is considered a friendly relationship act one has for Jesus himself. It is manifested through acts of generosity and hospitality. Jesus counts every single thing one has done for his disciples, something as simple as a cup of water. Water is a symbol of life; God would give eternal life to those who show kindness to his disciples. Our daily ordinary relationship is made holy when it is done with the love of God; and for God's people. It is not simply a passing act of kindness, but it has everlasting value in God's kingdom. We don't know how, but we believe in the power of God who promises to reward those who welcome his disciples in His Holy Name.
We pray to respect God's Holy Name.
Having faith in Jesus could potentially change a person from the inside out. Their vision of life is widened. Their spirituality is uplifting from worshipping mortals to the Divine, God the Most High. Their way of life is changed. Their relationships with others and with God are purified. They now no more pray to mortals, but to the Divine. The forth Commandment requires to honour parents both the living and the dead. Before they prayed to their ancestors. They now pray for them. This implies their ancestors now, through their prayers, receive God's blessing. They also realize that without God; there is no ancestor. Jesus tells his disciples, that God must be the first priority in life. All other created beings, including father and mother, or brother and sister; are all God's creation. Worshiping God is not simply a right thing to do, but it is a loving noble act of responding to God's love. God's heart comes to our hearts.
There have been misunderstanding about the person of Jesus. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is? They replied: 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets' Mt 16:13-20. Jesus told his disciples; the way in which one views a person who to be, is also the way in which one shows respect for that person. Jesus implies that recognizing him means recognizing the Father who sent him. Jesus extends this welcoming gesture to his disciples. A friendly relationship act one has for his disciples is considered a friendly relationship act one has for Jesus himself. It is manifested through acts of generosity and hospitality. Jesus counts every single thing one has done for his disciples, something as simple as a cup of water. Water is a symbol of life; God would give eternal life to those who show kindness to his disciples. Our daily ordinary relationship is made holy when it is done with the love of God; and for God's people. It is not simply a passing act of kindness, but it has everlasting value in God's kingdom. We don't know how, but we believe in the power of God who promises to reward those who welcome his disciples in His Holy Name.
We pray to respect God's Holy Name.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
