The reading from the Second Book of Kings considers the support a woman gives to the prophet Elisha and her subsequent reward. The verses from Psalm 89 express praise and confidence in God. The passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans describes Baptism’s transcendence over sin. Today’s Gospel considers the difficulties and rewards that await those who have accepted Jesus’ mission. I see today’s readings as a call to the challenges of service with an awareness of the support that the Lord provides.

As I consider the woman of means in today’s first reading, I recognize that she is not looking for the reward that she will ultimately receive. She is acting on the service to which her faith is calling. The words in this passage that stood out for me were “a woman of influence”. In the last month my wife was honored as “a woman of influence” by the Wisconsin Business Journal. This was not because of wealth or power, but because of her inspiration; she serves as her faith is calling leading a small Catholic women’s college with a very diverse student body.

In the passages preceding today’s Gospel, Jesus gives the apostles authority and sends them out. The text that we read today lays out the consequences for these missionaries. I live in a time and place in which being a Christian does seem to have the same consequences that it had in a different time and/or place. In my lifetime, I can recall having experienced only one single significant negative consequence that resulted from me being openly Catholic. In school, I remember learning about the “Know Nothing Party”. Lately I have been reading about the history of the sisters that founded the university where my wife works; I learned about the violent threats that these women received as they came to minister to the needs of an immigrant population in the 19th century. I am called to reflect on places in the world where people experience threats because of their faith today.

I have some difficulties with the ordering of priorities in terms of faith and family at the beginning of today’s Gospel. Still the interactions that take place if politics comes up at family gatherings have given me some insight into at least one interpretation of the point that the Gospel may be attempting to make.

If I imagine myself as a listener to Jesus in the scene of today’s Gospel reading, what strikes me is the last sentence. In this setting serving a simple cup of cold water becomes a more challenging task. My imagination has me standing in the hot, dry environment of the Holy Land. A glass of cold water has more value than I would have normally assigned. In this context getting cold, drinkable water means going to a well and bringing up the water from the place where it was clean and cool. This fits into the perspective of the rest of the Gospel where the work of service requires both going out and investing effort.

Each day I find myself thinking what a “lucky” person I am. My prayer today grows out of my wife’s reminder that right word is “blessed”.

Heavenly Father,
Taking action in a new direction is not easy.
Forgive me for my silent complicity with the suffering inherent in the way that things are.
Today’s Gospel reminds me of my call to share the Word in both speech and action.
Remind me that as a person of privilege I have a responsibly to those who are less fortunate.