Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
June 28, 2026
2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a | Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 | Matthew 10:37-42
Being Jesus’ disciple demands asking many deep, disturbing questions: Why do I do certain things? Who and what guide my choices? Family? Friends? Desire of possessions? Status in the community? Personal pleasure? Service of others? Love of God?
Indeed, Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel passage from St. Matthew can be very disturbing; they confront us and question the quality of our discipleship, our genuine following of Jesus.
Someone has noted that the purpose of preaching the Gospel is to “comfort the afflicted” (the poor and suffering) and also to “afflict the comfortable” (those who have enough of life’s necessities and yet do not show compassion to the needy). A close reading of today’s Gospel may indeed disturb or “afflict” us.
We hear Jesus’ blunt and direct words: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me … whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” “Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones … will surely not lose his reward.” How do we respond to Jesus’ challenges?
Papal Wisdom: Saint Pope Paul VI, in his powerful reflection on evangelization in the modern world (Evangelii Nuntiandi), makes an insightful point: the Gospels are meant to challenge our values, choices, and relationships. Listen to this pope-saint — and be disturbed!
The Church’s task in preaching the Gospel means, according to Paul VI, “affecting and, as it were, upsetting, through the power of the Gospel, humanity’s criteria of judgment, determining values, points of interest, lines of thought, sources of inspiration and models of life, which are in contrast with the Word of God and the plan of salvation” (EN 19).
The demands of discipleship pose real questions: Do I place God first in my life — even above family and friends? Do I willingly carry my daily crosses? Am I over-attached to material possessions? Being an admirer of Jesus is easy; being a genuine disciple requires commitment, dedication, and hard decisions.
Contemporary Witnessing: One valid, contemporary description of discipleship is to understand it as a “counter-cultural witness.” This means following one’s Christian convictions — even against the tide of prevailing cultural patterns and social values which are contrary to the Gospel. Some brief examples help to illustrate this “counter-cultural” point.
A young man who is a new doctor or lawyer leaves his profession and enters the seminary to study for the priesthood. A pregnant, unmarried lady refuses the convenient path of abortion, knowing it will radically change her life; she has to abandon her dreams of a professional career. A brave man speaks out against corruption in government or business, even if it may cost him his job or bring threats to his life. Family members lovingly care for a child with a disability at great sacrifice to themselves. A woman volunteers to leave a comfortable private school to work with children at a school in a poor area. A family commits to a shared meal with some time for common prayer several times a week.
Both the Church and society need the witness of people who are countercultural. Many world leaders followed the humble nun, Saint Mother Teresa, to her burial in 1997, but her countercultural witness, I believe, must have made them (and us) decidedly uncomfortable.
Significant Challenges: Personally, in my high-school years, I read passionately two books by Diedrich Bonhoeffer, who died in 1945 at the age of 39 in the Flossenbürg concentration camp in Germany. The Cost of Discipleship (1937) and Letters and Papers from Prison (1951) are classics of what becoming Jesus’ disciple demands. They remain relevant for our day and its challenges, particularly in U.S. society!
Ask yourself, challenge yourself: What sacrifices or changes in my life are needed so I can be a more genuine and compassionate disciple of Jesus? How can I more authentically die with Christ in order to live more abundantly with him?
In conclusion, I ask you: Have my many questions disturbed you? If you reply “Yes,” I will answer: “Good.” Maybe we are both now closer to understanding the true costs of discipleship as an authentic following of Jesus. Indeed, discipleship costs; often, the costs are high.
Maryknoll Father James H. Kroeger served in mission in Asia (Philippines and Bangladesh) for over five decades. He recently published three short, meditative books: Living in Joyful Hope, Exploring Vatican II Treasures, and A Joyful Journey with Pope Francis.
To read other Scripture reflections published by the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, click here.
Featured image: A pilgrim undertakes the journey to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. (Jorge Luis Ojeda Flota, available in the public domain through Unsplash)
