📖 TODAY'S GOSPEL June 28 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 10:37–42 The Cost of Following Jesus Jesus said: 📖 "Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38) These are challenging words. Jesus is not asking us to love our families less. He is teaching us something deeper: Christ must come first. Only when God occupies first place can every other relationship flourish as it was meant to. When Jesus is first, we become better spouses, parents, children, friends, and neighbors. Discipleship, however, always involves a cross. For some, that cross is illness. For others, loneliness, sacrifice, misunderstanding, or hidden struggles known only to God. Jesus never promised a life without crosses. He promised to carry them with us. The cross is not a sign that God has abandoned us. Often, it is where we encounter Him most deeply. Jesus then reveals one of the great paradoxes of the Gospel: 📖 "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39) The world says: Protect yourself. Put yourself first. Jesus says: Give yourself away in love. True life is found not in self-preservation, but in self-giving. The Gospel ends with a beautiful reminder: 📖 "Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones... will surely not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42) No act of love is ever too small in God's eyes. A kind word. A listening ear. A visit to someone who is sick. A prayer. A simple act of kindness. When done with love, these become acts of holiness. 🙏 Prayer Lord Jesus, teach us to place You above every other love. Give us courage to carry our daily crosses faithfully and to serve You through simple acts of love each day. Amen. ✝️ Truth for Today Nothing done with love for Christ is ever small. 🕊️ Reflection What is one concrete way you can put Christ first today? #RiseWithTheWord #DailyGospel #Matthew10 #SundayGospel #CatholicFaith #✝ ബൈബിൾ വചനം #🏰 ക്രിസ്ത്യൻ സ്റ്റാറ്റസ് #😇 എന്റെ യേശു #🌞 ഗുഡ് മോണിംഗ് #🥳ഞായറാഴ്ച സ്പെഷ്യൽ സ്റ്റാറ്റസ്