Cycle A
Good News A31
Thirteenth Sunday in
Ordinary Time
Matthew
10:37-42 New American Bible
"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.”
Jesus says that you should love God more than
any other person in the world. You
should love God more than your parents, your sisters, or your brothers. You should love God more than you love your
friends. You must love God more than
objects, too. You must love him more
than video games. You must love him more
than car races. You must love God more
than anyone or anything.
You must keep your
friendship with God your first priority.
You must love him with your whole heart, your whole body, your whole
mind, and your whole soul. When you do this, Jesus will give you new life to do
his work on earth, and reward you with eternal life with him in heaven. God will give you all the graces you need to
follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Sometimes
there may be a heavy load to carry, but when you pray and talk with God and ask
his help, he lightens your load. He
carries part of the cross for you.
If you are to follow Christ,
you must focus on him and do what he asks you to do. He wants you to share the good news with
others about his dying on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus says if
you receive him, you also receive God, the Father. If you are kind to one of God’s ministers or
priests, then you will receive the reward God gives to ministers or
priests. If you are kind and respectful
to a good man or woman, then you will receive the same reward as them. If you give even a small cup of water to
those following in the pathway of Jesus Christ, you will be rewarded. Love, talk and pray to God all the days of
your life. If you listen and follow his
directions, you will have life everlasting with him in heaven. What a wonderful reward!
Say the “Our Father” and
tell him how much you love him and how much you yearn to be with him in
heaven. Tell him no matter how many
contests on earth you might win, none can compare with
the joy you will have when you walk through those pearly gates and see his
loving face.
“Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed
be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy
will be done,
On
earth as it is in heaven.
Give
us this day, our daily bread.
And
forgive us our trespasses,
As
we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”
Copyright ©2002, 2004 Joan Y. Edwards