Relationship With Jesus Above All

Weekly Missionary Reflection
13th Sunday in ordinary time, 02 July 2023
2Kgs. 4:8-11,14-16a; Ps. 89:2-3,16-17,18-19; Rom. 6:3-4,8-11; Matt. 10:37-42

Today we are called to reflect on our calling, task and consequences as the disciples of Christ. One of the main points conveyed in today’s Gospel is Jesus’s message to His disciples about the importance to put the relationship with Him above all.

Jesus told them, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37). This saying sounds stern, but Jesus would like to emphasize that following Him requires full sacrifice and undivided loyalty. Jesus wanted His disciples to love and be loyal to Him more than others, including our family and ourselves.

Jesus continued, “And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward” (Matt. 10:42). Every single small deed with love and sincerity, and our treating the smallest are precious to Jesus. In this part, Jesus wanted to emphasize that the reward of following Him is eternal life. We will not become poor or suffer by giving. By sharing with our neighbours sincerely, we are letting God’s grace work and flow in our lives. Jesus simply invites us not to think about what we will get from following Him, but instead, what we can give to our neighbours as part of the grace we have received for free.

We are called to ponder if we have really put our relationship with Jesus Christ above all. Are we ready to sacrifice our personal interests, including family relationships, for the sake of following Him wholeheartedly? Do we treat every person with love, including the smallest and the least counted in this world?

 Our love and loyalty to Jesus Christ and our neighbours is the reflection of living faith. When we joyfully focus on our relationship with Him, we will find true life and unwavering joy. Through small actions with love to our neighbours, we become the witness of Jesus Christ in this world and present the Kingdom of God among us. We can simply begin with caring for our surroundings, paying attention to our sick neighbour, making friends with all people regardless of their religions, being open to any critics and keep on praying.

As the disciples of Jesus, let’s live according to Jesus’ teaching and deed!

(Ignasius Lede – Commission for Mission of The Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:

For a Eucharistic life
We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters.

Political awareness We pray that many young Catholics are called to enter politics and become government officials, so they can get involved in making policies for the sake of national development and solution to social problems. 

Amen.