Today's Reflections
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Mt 10:34—11:1
[Jesus said to the Twelve,] 34“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. 35For
I have come to set/ a man ‘against his father,/ a daughter against her
mother,/ and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;/ 36and one’s enemies will be those of his 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; 38and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Whoever
receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s
reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous
will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42And whoever gives
only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he
is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
1When
Jesus finished giving these commands to his twelve disciples, he went
away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
Reflection:
I have come to set a man against his father.
Jesus always speaks of love and oneness in the family. Are his
declarations in the Gospel against the fourth commandment that asks us
to honor father and mother?
In
the early days, not all members of the family become Christians. The
opposition to Christianity is like the sword that divides and separates
the members. In extreme situations, in violent persecution, Jesus wants
us to decide to whom we belong. He asks us for total, complete, and
unconditional commitment.
Blood
relationship or human friendship, social position or human affinity,
therefore, should never be a hindrance for us to commit ourselves to
Jesus. Following Jesus is going all the way even if it calls for our own
crucifixion, even if we have to part ways with those who are dear and
close to our hearts.
Am I freely, totally, completely committed to Jesus?
Who are those in my family, or community,
whom I have to bring to the Church, to Jesus?
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