Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time, June 30, 2025

Gospel

Matthew 8:18-22

When Jesus saw a crowd around him,

he gave orders to cross to the other shore.

A scribe approached and said to him,

“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,

but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

Another of his disciples said to him,

“Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”

But Jesus answered him, “Follow me,

and let the dead bury their dead.”

Reflection

“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” This line took me back to the Nativity... how Mary and Joseph went from inn to inn, searching for a place to stay. Even from the very beginning, there was no room for Jesus. His earthly life was marked not by comfort or stability, but by constant movement, rejection, and sacrifice.

The fact that Jesus says this line following the scribe who wanted to become a disciple and said to Him “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go" makes me believe that maybe Jesus was warning or trying to prepare the man for this journey. Trying to show him how it would not be as easy or simple as he thinks. Similarly another disciple says to Jesus, let me follow you but first let me bury my father, to which Jesus responds “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead”. At first read this sounded quite harsh, but after contemplating I realized that both men while they desired to follow Jesus were not actually fully committed to that decision and wanted to do so on their own terms. I think this Gospel depicts how the call of discipleship is not one to take lightly and requires priority. It reminded me of how many times we might say we give something to God and say, "I trust you it’s all in your hands" and turn around and try to take control again. Really this Gospel left me with one question after reading…are you all in?