GOSPEL, Matthew (10:34-42, 11:1)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
Not Peace, but a Sword
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Rewards
40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
Jesus and John the Baptist
11 Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
This Gospel passage from Matthew (10:34-42, 11:1), is subordinated to two themes, the conditions for following Christ and reward for those who receive his envoys, is a great challenge for our life.
Jesus says, “34Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” He will bring division, even among members of the same family. This statement confirms the prophecy of old Simeon in the temple, it reflects the experience of the early Church, in the face of the Jewish community and family, due to the revolutionary newness brought by Christ: Whoever wants to follow Christ must do without family affection. (37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me); The message is clear, we have to Love Christ above all things to be worthy of Him.
Wherever he goes, Jesus divides even the most intimate affections: father, mother, daughter-in-law, and mother-in-law because Jesus asks us for everything, to give us everything.
Being a Christian comes at a price. The cross, a humiliation for Jews and complete absurdity to some Christians, appears as a trustworthy sign of following Jesus because it is a sign of love. “38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” How may I be worthy of the kingdom of Heaven if I continue my selfish, small, self-centred life?
Our glory is the cross of Christ; we can say it with St. Paul because it is a positive sign of life and not of death, of deliverance and not of slavery. If we really want to be authentic Disciples of Christ, we must be willing to spend our lives and the gifts that the Lord has given us in the service of the other and for the other.
Not all the sacrifice, work and effort for the kingdom of God, as well as all the service rendered to our brethren, will go without retribution.
PRAYER
God our Father, help us to make your principles and attitudes our own, to get rid of our petty and sterile self. Allow us to understand by your word and example that the measure of our freedom is the capacity for love and for evangelical ascesis. Help us, Lord, with your grace! Amen.