13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16 | Psalm 88(89):2-3,16-19 | Romans 6:3-4,8-11 | Matthew 10:37-42
[The Shunammitess] replied, ‘I live with my own people about me.’ (2 Kings 4:13)
What a simple yet profound acknowledgement of all God’s gifts that surround us. “I live with my own people about me. I may not have children of my own, but I’m surrounded by people I care about, and that’s enough for me.”
But how often do we mentally shun others for whatever reason?
Tsk tsk, that lazy young girl sitting down with no bags, staring at her phone while the tired old aunty stands right in of her with her shopping bags. Shame!
Alamak, that uncle selling tissues is standing right where I need to pass! Never mind, keep walking, stare straight ahead, don’t look at him.
Yiii, that guy’s got so many tattoos, must be gangster. Why did he have to stand right next to me?!?! Slowly slowly move away, don’t make him think I’m avoiding him, otherwise sure die one!
Do our mental borders extend only to the people we personally know, or can we push them outwards to include strangers who we may find unattractive or perhaps even offensive in some way, but who are nevertheless God’s children just like us.
✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞
Two days ago, I boarded a lift at my block to head out for a meeting. There was a young mother and a toddler already in it, and the child was having his own brand of fun touching the lift buttons and walls, and going “beep!” each time.
So I held out my hand, palm outwards, and waited to see what he’d do.
To my surprise, he rushed over and grabbed my hand…and didn’t let go.
I think the mother was surprised too; she must’ve thought “I don’t know this man, so why is my son being so friendly with him?”
When the lift doors opened at ground level, he still wouldn’t let go, so I had to exit with him and his mother in tow. Only when it became clear that we were headed in different directions did he finally relax his grip…and wave goodbye with a cherubic grin.
I suspect his mother may have admonished him out of earshot, impressing on him the importance of not being so friendly with strange adults. Those few moments, though, reminded me that we often have to look past the superficial ugliness to the core of love and care beneath, and engage with that core, drawing them through our own loving deeds to the Father of us all.
Then, and only then, can we begin to fulfill the words we pray so often:
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen.