2 July 2023- 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal. She said to her husband, ‘Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us.’

From 2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16, NRSV

In yesterday’s reading, we heard God’s promise to Abraham that his wife Sarah, although past the age of child bearing, would conceive and bear a son. In today’s first reading, we hear a similarly promise made to a woman by the prophet Elisha. This woman and her husband had offered hospitality to Elisha having recognised him as a “holy man of God”. Elisha wanted to repay this hospitality in some way and asked the woman what he could do for her. She asked for nothing, asserting that she had the support of her own people. Elisha then sought the counsel of his servant Gehazi who informed Elisha that this woman was childless and that her husband was elderly. For such women, the stigma associated with childlessness would have been very harsh.  Elisha spoke again to the woman and promised that she would soon become a mother of a son.

• • What do you think prompted this woman to offer hospitality to the prophet?
  • When have you been in need of hospitality from others?

Pray for all who open their homes and hearts to welcome strangers – and for those in need of such hospitality.