Angels to the Rescue

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1  2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a

One day Elisha came to Shunem,
where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her. 
Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine.
So she said to her husband, “I know that Elisha is a holy man of God.
Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof
and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp,
so that when he comes to us he can stay there.”
Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.

Later Elisha asked, “Can something be done for her?”
His servant Gehazi answered, “Yes!
She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years.”
Elisha said, “Call her.”
When the woman had been called and stood at the door,
Elisha promised, “This time next year
you will be fondling a baby son.”

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

R. (2a) Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever,
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever;”
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
You are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and the Holy One of Israel, our king.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Reading II  Romans 6:3-4, 8-11

Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.
As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;
as to his life, he lives for God.
Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin
and living for God in Christ Jesus.

Alleluia  1 Peter 2:9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation;
announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel  Matthew 10:37-42

Jesus said to his apostles:
“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;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.""Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is a righteous man
will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Angels to the Rescue

June 29, 2026 //Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Reflect on the Word // 

Our three-year-old granddaughter, unable to speak or swallow due to mouth sores from cancer treatment, gave a thumbs up to her mom’s description of the fun visit they’d just experienced with her dad and siblings. They’d  returned home now, and I watched as our daughter positioned herself next to her child in the bed, settling in for a chat with me and my husband. 

Our visit was restricted to a video call that day, but even so, it was impossible to miss the exhaustion and pain on their faces. A wave of discouragement swept over me as the call ended: Where is the evidence that God hears my prayers? Why must their suffering be prolonged?

But reading today’s Responsorial Psalm, I wonder, could it be that the angel God promises to rescue us is delivering us from evils more threatening than cancer or the painful side effects of its treatment? I immerse myself further in the Psalm and discover that “the lowly” who “hear me” and are “glad” (Psalm 32:3) are the parts of me that doubt, resist, cower in fear, or hide in shame. I summon them out of hiding and declare, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him and delivers them” (Psalm 34:8). Then I invite all my parts to “glorify the LORD with me” (Psalm 32:4a). I receive grace to know the unchanging goodness of God even when I don’t understand His ways.

Sister, the promises of today’s Psalm are not empty. When we choose to remember God’s glory and exalt His name, a real transformation takes place in us, no matter our circumstances. We  find courage  to let go of our doubts and fears and to entrust everything to Him.

Relate to the Lord // Pray with Psalm 34 today. What verse or word does the Lord highlight for you?

Be a Woman of the Word