Sharing Guidelines
*Sharing is not a time for teaching or debate; it is a time to sense the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit who leads the gathering.
*Reflection sharing is not meant to teach others but to share the meaning you personally have discovered. Therefore, do not criticize or debate another person’s sharing. Avoid boasting of your own understanding or knowledge.
*Respect the grace of the Holy Spirit, who reveals the meaning of the Word while dwelling among us, and listen attentively to others’ sharing, holding it in your heart.
*Keep confidential any personal reflections or stories shared in the group; practicing brotherly love means not passing along private matters outside the meeting.
*When speaking, always use the first person singular (“I”). Be careful not to distance or generalize your story by using the third person (“he,” “they”) or the first person plural (“we”).
*Keep it short.
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.”
-The Word of the Lord – Thanks be to God
Reading 2
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.
-The Word of the Lord – Thanks be to God
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.”
-The Gospel of the Lord -Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ
Today’s Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward” The primary mission of a prophet was to clearly proclaim God’s will to His people. Therefore, to welcome a prophet is ultimately to respond to God’s call, to repent, and to enter into a right relationship with Him.
Yet building a right relationship with God often requires us to let go of many things. This can be especially challenging within our family relationships, which is why Jesus begins with these striking words: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me”
Family is one of God’s greatest gifts. We willingly make sacrifices for those we love, and the love and dedication found within families help strengthen and enrich society. At the same time, when attachment to family becomes excessive, it can lead to favoritism, exclusiveness, and relationships that are centered only on our own circle.
Jesus is not diminishing the importance of family. Rather, He is teaching us that our relationship with God must come first. Only when we become the people God calls us to be can we truly build strong, loving, and faith-filled families.
Our world today greatly needs authentic examples of Christian living. We are called to become meaningful and life-giving presences in the lives of those we encounter each day. Through our words, actions, and witness, we can help others grow closer to the Lord and discover the divine image that God has placed within them.
Perhaps this is the cross that each of us is called to carry: helping others find their way into a deeper relationship with God, even when it requires sacrifice, patience, and self-giving love. As Jesus reminds us, “whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” May we embrace that calling with faith and generosity today. (김준철 토마스 아퀴나스 신부)
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Sharing Questions
1. Which word, phrase, or part of today’s reflection touched your heart the most? Why?
2. Let us reflect on the cross that we are realistically called to carry in our daily lives.
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What is my own cross?
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What is our community’s cross?
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How are we called to live out sacrifice, service, or even a spirit of martyrdom?
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If we feel that we have not been carrying our cross well, what kind of cross would we like to embrace as we continue our faith journey?
3. Jesus teaches us to put our relationship with God before even our family relationships.
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What kind of relationship do I currently have with God?
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What often causes me to put family concerns ahead of God?
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What does a person look like who truly puts God first in his or her life?