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:
“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.”
It is not Jesus’ intent to cause strife and division; He wants us to understand that a person may have to make difficult choices as a result of love.
Many a man has refused to leave his family to fight in a noble cause because of love for his wife and children. Many a mother has forgone the opportunity to go on the “trip of a lifetime” rather than leave a sick child at home. A man or woman may well choose to refrain from a particular pleasure rather than be separated from the one they love.
Love requires us to make very unselfish choices. Yet, at the same time, love gives us the greatest rewards.
“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.”
Love of God is the most demanding love of all. It requires one to carry the cross of sacrifice, to pursue a life of selflessness.
But, it is through sacrifice that we “find” the life of authentic joy that comes from giving of oneself for the sake of another. It is a joy we will experience in the present day as well as in the life to come.
“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.”
Jesus is telling us that the manner in which we receive Him is the same as if we were receiving God the Father who sent Him.
We are not all prophets or even “righteous” men. But, if we receive and embrace the message of those who speak on God’s behalf, then we will receive the same 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.”
In using the term “one of these little ones,” Jesus is referring to anyone, young or old, who is in the beginning stage of learning about God. If we quench their thirst for the knowledge of God, we surely will secure our own reward.
“The truest sign of love is to know the joy that comes from sacrificing your own happiness for the sake of the one you love.”    – – P. J. Hopkins