17 July, 2023 | Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

 Gospel Mt 10:34—11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles:

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.

I have come to bring not peace but the sword.

For 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;

and one's enemies will be those of his household.

"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;

and whoever does not take up his cross

and follow after me is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds his life will lose it,

and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

"Whoever receives you receives me,

and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Whoever 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.

And 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."

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,

he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

Reflections:

Jesus is calling us to  radical discipleship. Family ties and attachments could become a hindrance to our baptismal calling if we are not alert. Disciples become willing to subordinate their allegiance to personal desires and whims—even their own family—for the sake of Jesus and his mission. Jesus’ purpose is not to create division, but his coming has inevitably incited conflicting responses. In essence, discipleship means to “take up the cross and follow”  Jesus, who is the way to true and lasting life. Peace is not the absence of war; instead it is the integrity of life. There will be dissension and disagreement on account of faith. What is to shine is the truth of the Gospel. There is no meaning to life when there is duplicity, untruth, lies, and insincerity. The Gospel values are to take utmost priority in one’s life. 

Activity:

I will uphold truth and integrity in my life.

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Click)