15 July, 2024 | Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

 Is 1:10-17

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.

Reflection:

To be a follower of Christ means, first of all, to love him most, above anyone else and anything else. This love has to be shown even in the most trying times or situations when one has to choose between Jesus and one’s most beloved blood relation. Accepting Jesus and his teaching for some may even today bring division and alienation from one’s own dear ones. Secondly, one has to take up the cross that the Lord allows in one’s life with faith and love. A true disciple will be able to see Jesus in others and be kind and considerate to all with a generous heart. Are we true followers of Jesus?

Activity: 

Examine my attitudes towards God and others.