13th. Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew: 10:37-42

"If anyone gives so much as a cup of water to one of these little ones he will not lose his reward."

Reflection
Matthew 10:37-42

At a first reading the demand of Jesus sounds selfish, ‘anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me.’ It only makes sense when we realize that Jesus will never be outdone in generosity.

Jesus never wanted suffering for anyone but he knew that if we are going to follow his footsteps, promoting love and respect for every person, we will meet with opposition. Fidelity has its price, but also rewards. Would you agree?

The passage is a call to both radical and practical discipleship. When have you found that in order to achieve a certain objective you had to make it a priority, and then take the practical steps necessary to reach your goal? What were the benefits to you when you did this?

‘Hate’ is prophetic exaggeration for the uncompromising loyalty Jesus seeks in disciples. There may be times when people make demands in conflict with fidelity to another relationship. This can be painful. When have you found that being clear about your priorities helped you in that situation?

John Byrne osa Intercom