Sunday Reflections, 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, 28 June 2026

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Cup of Water and a Rose on a Silver Plate
Francisco de Zurbarán [Web Gallery of Art]

Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward (Matthew 10:42; Gospel).

Doesn't the painting highlight the beauty that can be found in very ordinary things, a beauty that comes from God?

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand)

Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Gospel Matthew 10:37-42 (Jerusalem Bible)

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.

‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me. Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward. If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’

 

Léachtaí i nGaeilge

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England & Wales, Scotland

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul 

Saints Peter and Paul 
Guido Reni [Web Gallery of Art]

Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India)

Sunday Reflections for this Solemnity here.

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Head of a Peasant Woman with Greenish Lace Cap
Vincent van Gogh [Web Gallery of Art]

There is a beautiful reflection for today's Mass by English mystic Caryll Houselander (1901-1954) in Magnificat, the monthly liturgical magazine/missal that I highly recommend. I'll quote part of it.

The only real oneness possible [is] Christ in us . . . In Holy Communion, millions of small hosts are given to millions of people; this does not mean that Christ is divided into millions, but that the millions are made one in Christ.

A flesh and blood example tells more than many words. I was at a Mass in a side chapel where I knew the priest would have no Communion hosts. But at the Lord I am not worthy a woman came out of the shadows and whispered, 'Come, he has one Host for me; he will divide it.' I turned and saw poverty, suffering that shamed me, a woman in rags, her face burnt and hardly human, only the eyes that looked out of it shone with unbelievable serenity. The priest divided the Host reserved for her between us. She gave Christ to me, Christ's Passion to the world.

Continue at Bangor to Bobbio.

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