Jun 26: Love God First and Foremost

Bernard de Hoog (1866-1943): Tea Time
Private Collection

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mt 10:37-42

“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 (NRSV, Mt 10:37).”

Father, everything we are and everything we have comes to us through the Word through whom you create all things. We are grateful for your own divine life that you share with us in the Holy Spirit, the life that we share with all human beings who will accept it but first and most of all with our own family, with spouse and children and children’s children.

If we share life, Father, and are capable of loving one another, it is because you have given us the power through the Word in the Holy Spirit. May we make you, Father, the source of all, the center and focus of all that we are and, loving you and the Word, now made flesh, and the Holy Spirit first of all, may we then love the family you have given us, loving and serving them as well as all of our sisters and brothers.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.