Referring to Matthew 10:37-42, Fr. Jonas talks about receiving and giving at the 4 p.m. Mass at the St. Francis Chapel in the Prudential Center in Boston on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

Text of the homily

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel challenge us to reorient and expand our hearts by welcoming and receiving.

This call to conversion remains constant in our journey toward the heavenly homeland because we are so tempted to settle for comforts and pleasures here, especially with social media and AI.

Loving is not based only on our own efforts. We must always remember St. John’s insight in his first letter: “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.”

In loving us, God sustains your existence, my existence and everything in this universe and all the other universes in the multiverse (if it exists). He goes so far to give us Jesus in the sacraments, in the Scriptures and in prayer.  

Our recognition of that infinite love should prompt a mutual deep love from us. Venerable Pio Bruno Lanteri writes, “My God and all, I love You above everything.”

When we respond to God’s love and generosity with love and generosity to Him and to others, we enter into that divine circle of giving and receiving.

Jesus teaches us today that no matter the size of our generosity, God will honor that with more graces and gifts. Sometimes, we see them as earthly benefits: good feelings, improved health or a job offering.

In the first reading, the woman’s hospitality to Elisha the prophet prompted a prophet’s reward: the fulfillment of desires that seemed impossible. She welcomed Elisha by expanding her house; this larger dwelling/this larger heart would welcome someone else as “Elisha promised, ‘This time next year you will be fondling a baby son.’ ”

Likewise, the Blessed Virgin Mary loved God so much with the grace of the Immaculate Conception. From that love, she said “Yes” to the angel and she welcomed Jesus our Savior into her womb.

Beyond physical effects, these graces enlargen our hearts, our souls so we may respond with more generosity and love. This prepares us for life in heaven as Paul describes: “We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.”

One act of generosity to someone today can enlarge our hearts for such surprising gifts from the Lord. Receive, give and praise the goodness of the Lord.