Resources, Prayers, Games, and Lesson Plans
More Thoughts and Reflection Questions
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Mass Readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
- First Reading - 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16A: A influential woman in Shunem offers hospitality to the prophet Elisha. In gratitude, Elisha promises her a son, despite her husband's advanced age.
- Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 89: I'll forever sing the Lord's promises; His kindness is everlasting. Blessed are those who walk in His light and find joy in His justice. He's our strength, favor, and protective shield.
- Second Reading - Romans 6:3-4, 8-11: Through baptism, we join Christ in His death and resurrection, signifying our new life. As Christ is free from death, we too, should live free from sin, and for God.
- Gospel - Matthew 10:37-42: Jesus instructs his apostles that true discipleship requires them to prioritize their love and devotion to him above even their closest family relationships. He also emphasizes the significance of receiving and supporting those who come in his name, assuring that even the smallest acts of kindness towards his disciples will be rewarded.
Themes for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
The readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time encourage us to make our relationship with God first in all we do. The first reading recounts how a woman provided hospitality to Elisha and was rewarded for her generosity. The psalm reminds us that all of the good things in our lives come from God. And in the gospel Jesus tells us that we must stop clinging to our own self-interests in order to follow him.
- Discipleship and Priority: Jesus emphasizes the supreme importance of following Him wholeheartedly, even if it means putting Him above family relationships. He challenges His disciples to prioritize their commitment to Him above all else.
- Cost of Discipleship: Jesus acknowledges that following Him may result in division and conflict within families, highlighting the potential sacrifices and challenges that disciples may face for their faith.
- Love for Jesus: Jesus calls His disciples to love Him above all, indicating the depth of devotion and allegiance required in discipleship.
- Taking Up the Cross: Jesus instructs His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him, signifying the willingness to bear the burdens and endure hardships that come with following Christ.
- Hospitality and Reception: Jesus encourages His disciples to show hospitality and receive others in His name, emphasizing the importance of caring for and supporting fellow believers and those who proclaim the message of the Gospel.
- Reward and Recognition: Jesus assures His disciples that even the smallest acts of kindness and service done in His name will not go unnoticed by God, promising a reward and recognition in the kingdom of heaven.
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.
Resources for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
What Is My Cross? Lesson Plan on Dying to Self
Resources for the Gospel of Matthew
Paul’s Letter to the Romans: Faith, Grace, and Righteousness
What Is My Cross? Lesson Plan on Dying to Self
The lesson plan on dying to self helps teens grasp the concept of "taking up their cross" and provides practical examples of how they can apply it. Through interactive discussions and activities, teenagers explore the meaning of self-sacrifice and discover ways to embody it in their daily lives. By focusing on concrete actions such as serving others, prioritizing relationships over personal desires, and practicing acts of mercy, the lesson plan empowers teens to understand the transformative power of dying to self and encourages them to actively live out this principle in their own lives.
Resources for the Gospel of Matthew
Exploring resources and reflections on the Gospel of Matthew deepens our understanding of the gospel for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. Commentaries, study guides, and devotional materials shed light on the radical call to discipleship and the priority of commitment to Jesus. They help us reflect on the challenges and sacrifices involved, while connecting these teachings to practical acts of mercy. By engaging with these resources, we grow in faith and apply the transformative message of Matthew's Gospel to our lives.
The Corporal Works of Mercy
The gospel for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A challenges disciples to prioritize their commitment to Jesus over familial ties, reflecting the radical nature of discipleship. The corporal works of mercy, including feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and sheltering the homeless, exemplify this sacrificial love by directly meeting the physical needs of others. By embracing these acts of mercy, we embody selflessness, echoing the profound commitment demanded by Christ and fulfilling the command to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Paul’s Letter to the Romans: Faith, Grace, and Righteousness
The Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 reading for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A delves into baptism's symbolism, uniting believers with Christ's death and resurrection. Baptism aligns with Christ's resurrection, symbolizing new life. Christ's resurrection signifies victory over death, rendering it powerless. His death and life reflect departure from sin and devotion to God. This reading prompts believers to see themselves freed from sin and devoted to God through Christ. It resonates with the Letter to the Romans, exploring faith, grace, and righteousness.
Homilies and Reflections for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
A reflection or the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A from Jeff Cavins. What happened to Jesus will happen to his followers. Christ had to carry his cross and so we too, are called to pick up our cross and follow him. It means we will have die to ourselves. “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”
No Fear of Death
A homily for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A from Bishop Robert Barron. "In our second reading for this week, St. Paul reminds the Christian community in Rome that baptism means an immersion into the dying of the Lord. In his first letter to the Corinthians, he had similarly told his followers that every Eucharist is a participation in the dying of Christ. Why this preoccupation with death?"
To Find Our Lives
A reflection or the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A from Scott Hahn. "The Liturgy this week continues to instruct us in the elements of discipleship. We’re told that even the most humble among us have a share in the mission Christ gives to His Church. We’re not all called to the ministry of the Apostles, or to be prophets like Elisha in today’s First Reading. But each of us is called to a holy life."
Elisha and the Shunemite Woman
Another homily for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A from Bishop Robert Barron. "Our first reading for this weekend is taken from the marvelous second book of Kings, and it deals with the prophet Elisha, who was the chosen successor of the prophet Elijah. The narrative is, on one level, very simple and charming, but it also presents a kind of icon of the relationship between priests and their people."
More Thoughts for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
The readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A present us with a profound reflection on the themes of service, prophets, and hospitality. In the first reading from 2 Kings, we encounter a woman who recognizes the prophet Elisha and wholeheartedly welcomes him into her home, exemplifying the virtue of hospitality. This encounter leads to a promise and a subsequent miracle. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus instructs His disciples about their mission and the challenges they will face, emphasizing the importance of total devotion to God above all else. Let us delve deeper into these readings and draw insights for our own faith journey.
The Grace of Hospitality
The woman in the first reading for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A embodies the virtue of hospitality by readily recognizing Elisha as a prophet. Her intuitive understanding of Elisha's role in God's plan prompts her to offer him a warm and generous welcome into her home. This act of hospitality stems from her recognition that through Elisha, she is encountering God's messenger, carrying a message of hope and divine favor.
Elisha, touched by the woman's kindness and hospitality, promises her a son as a reward. This promise is a testament to the abundant blessings God bestows upon those who open their hearts and homes to His messengers. Miraculously, the woman conceives and bears a son, thus affirming the faithfulness of God's promises. This narrative reveals that acts of hospitality can lead not only to temporal blessings but also to the fulfillment of God's plans in our lives.
Putting God's Kingdom First
In the gospel for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, Jesus prepares His disciples for their mission of spreading the Good News to the world. He speaks of prophets and the rejection they often face, foreshadowing the challenges the apostles will encounter in their ministry. Like the prophets of old, the apostles are called to proclaim the truth fearlessly, even in the face of adversity.
Jesus further emphasizes that nothing should take precedence over our commitment to God, not even family. While familial ties are essential, discipleship demands an unwavering dedication to God's kingdom. This teaching underscores the radical call to discipleship, where our love for God should surpass any earthly attachments. By prioritizing our devotion to God above all else, we open ourselves to a deeper relationship with Him and allow His grace to guide our every action.
Reflection Questions for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
- In the first reading for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, the woman recognized Elisha as a prophet and showed him hospitality. How can we cultivate a spirit of recognition and hospitality towards those who carry God's message in our lives today?
- The woman's act of hospitality led to the fulfillment of God's promise in her life. How have you experienced God's blessings through acts of hospitality or generosity towards others?
- Consider the prophets and messengers of God who have influenced your faith journey. How can you express gratitude for their presence and the wisdom they have shared?
- Reflect on a time when you may have been hesitant or reluctant to welcome someone into your life or extend hospitality. How might this reflection encourage you to be more open and receptive to God's messengers in the future?
- What are some practical ways you can demonstrate hospitality to those around you, recognizing the presence of God in their lives and responding with love and kindness?
- In what ways can we create a culture of hospitality within our faith communities and families, where all individuals feel recognized, welcomed, and valued?
- In the gospel for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, Jesus warns His disciples about the challenges and rejection they will face in their mission. How can we find courage and strength in the face of adversity when proclaiming the truth of the Gospel?
- What are some ways we can ensure that our priorities align with God's will and that nothing takes precedence over our commitment to Him?
- How do the readings challenge our understanding of family and its relationship to our discipleship? How can we strike a balance between our responsibilities towards our families and our devotion to God?
- Take a moment to prayerfully consider how you can align your priorities with God's will and deepen your devotion to Him, seeking His guidance and grace in all aspects of your life.
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