Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle A
Look at the interaction between Elisha and the Shunamite couple. Elisha is known as the “holy man of God,” and this couple is clearly warm and gracious to him, to the point where they provide a room for him in their house, so he will be comfortable when he visits.
And what becomes of all that generosity? The great gift of their lives: in one year, Elisha promises, they will have a baby son.
This, of course, is the greatest gift God could bestow on them in their old age, and the story is paired with today’s gospel from Matthew 10, which says: “Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward.”
But, it turns out, our generosity of a cup of cold water to any disciple of Jesus, no matter how “little” or unknown, will bear a reward that can never be lost.
Here’s a quote I love, from James Blanchard Cisneros “You touch the world on a much deeper level than you currently perceive. … knowingly or not, you change the world with every interaction you have with a fellow being.”
I really believe that we carry interaction we’ve ever had, somewhere in our hearts. As William Faulkner famously said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” Even if we don’t remember all those sweet, loving words the lunch ladies said to us in first grade, the effect of all that kindness never leaves us.
Every cuddle with our parents, every kindness of a coach or a teacher, burrows a home in our hearts, and we find ourselves providing safety and shelter to other “little disciples” whom we meet in life.
What are your fondest memories of interactions with particular people?
Kathy McGovern ©2026