Jesus, the Messiah, is our only Teacher; he has the words of eternal life. His true disciples follow him in his suffering, death and rising.

To be true disciples, those who follow Jesus must hate those of their families. Or not love them more than him, as today’s gospel says.

Such strong, stark and challenging language highlights that we are to put nothing and no one ahead of Jesus.  We must prefer him to all things and all humans.

No, he does not tell us to hate or not love those of our families. After all, he makes it clear that we should not even hate our enemies. And he reminds us of the honor we should give to our parents. But, yes, we must put him and his words at the center of our lives.

And to be true disciples also means to suffer and even die like him. For we seek to follow the one who wants to see no one suffers. This leads him to go about towns and villages to teach, announce the Good News of God’s kingdom and justice. To cure diseases.

As he goes about to do good, Jesus earns the rejection and hatred of those who hold seats of power. For, yes, to do good is to court conflicts (SV.EN I:75). Hence, he will suffer a lot, die on the cross and rise. So shall be the fate of the true disciples. When they take up their crosses, they will look more like him and, hence, worthy of him. They will truly be baptized into his death and live a new life.

No, the lives of the true disciples are not all sacrifices. And one more thing:  like the prophet Elisha, Jesus is not outdone in generosity. The Teacher will see to it that others welcome them, are generous and merciful to them.

Lord Jesus, we like to be your true disciples; you are our father, our mother and our all (SV.EN V:537). So, grant us the courage to give up our bodies and shed our blood for you and for the poor. Let not the cost of discipleship—love, service and sacrifice—frighten us. And convince us that to live and die in the service of the poor is to attain, for sure, eternal bliss (SV.EN III:384). It is, yes, to follow you, trusting in Providence, and losing life and finding it.

28 June 2026
13th Sunday in O.T. (A)
2 Kgs 4, 8-11. 14-16a; Rom 6, 3-4. 8-11; Mt 10, 37-42