THE REWARD.

June 28 2020
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - A

READINGS: 2 KGS 4:8-11, 14-16A; PS 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19; ROM6:3-4, 8-11; MT 10:37-42.

A Korean proverb says, “Good will be rewarded with good and evil with evil; it is only a matter of time.” And another Congolese proverb adds, “He who gives a drop of water to a thirsty is rewarded with a never-ending source.”

Every newness asks for sacrifice and every sacrifice opens to a reward, a gratification. No sacrifice never goes unpaid. All that one does in life has a counterpart. That could be called compensation. Even love and goodness have their counterpart, just like sacrifice does have greater compensation. Besides, there is this natural and physic (scientific) aphorism attributed to the French chemist Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier: “Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed.”

If it is that everything is transformed, and that, the wickedness of a person can turn into a curse for him. How much more your kindness can also be turned into blessings. It is all about what do you give primacy to and dedicate more love and attention to.

Today’s readings, the first, the second, and the gospel, from the first approach, could sound as disconnected to each other. Even more, the Gospel seems to be a collection of diverse instructions of Jesus. But, when we look at them in another angle, comes the beautiful theme of how to be a better follower of the Lord and the reward that comes from it.

Last Sunday, we happened to meditate on the reality of persecutions and sufferings as the lot for he who chooses to follow the Lord. The Lord, while exhorting his followers to not fear, taught them that the road of perfection passes by the way of the Cross. In order words, no one can reach holiness without a spiritual battle and some renunciations. In the first part of today’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus insists on that matter. He speaks of the need to set the priority on the love of Him than love even of our kin (family members). This could sound a little strange if we try to read it at the light of the fourth commandment that says, “Honor your father and your mother” with its consequences, “that your days may be long…” This commandment speaks of obedience. He who says obedience says, love. But then, what does the Lord mean in this sentence, “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…”?

The accent here is sets on sacrifice and the greater sacrifice, love. Assuredly, we must love our parents and even more, love our children and be able to do all that we can out of love for them. The Lord does not call us to hate or reject them. Nevertheless, he exhorts that primacy and preeminence should be given to the love of God. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me…” The expression “MORE THAN” is clear. The misinterpretation of this verse could lead many people to run away from their obligations and responsibilities towards their parents and as fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, and children. What is in-game here is how to be a better follower of the Lord and not how to desert from our obligations.

To reach perfection and excellence, one must take upon some sacrifices. This point on sacrifice makes the connection with the second reading. In our renunciations, we all are buried with Christ. And because buried with Him, we can also rise with Him into newness of life, live in glory. All the sacrifices we undertake following Jesus or obeying the will of God will never go unpaid. Thus, the element of reward that can be seen in the second part of the Gospel and more clearly expressed in the first reading.

There are greater benefits in true discipleship. The Lord says that all our acts of goodness will results to fully gain life and also to superior rewards. The proof of these promises is what we are given to witness in the episode of Elisha in Shunem. The goodness of this Shunammite woman and her husband to the man of God is rewarded with the promise of a child, just as Jesus says, “Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward…”

Brethren, all our actions are taken into account by God and he will repay us consequently. Therefore, being well aware of this, we should better strive to “Do good to everyone, always do good, never harm anyone!” For, the evil you do to your brother or sister will be rewarded as well as the good you do to them. God is not mean. But he also is not unjust. If you sow love you will harvest greater love. If you sow hatred and seeds of division, be prepared for your harvest. Do never stop doing good, for, God rewards all our works in their minor details. And besides all, the reward from God leads us to grow in our faith in Him. In terms of goodness, it is ‘do or do not’. There is no try or half measure. One does not have to try to be good. He must be or rather not be. In any way, our choice will result in a reward or punishment. Therefore, no matter how much evil others could do to you, do God. For, you know that God will be the one repaying you.