Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time.mps

In this Gospel passage, Jesus tells his apostles that he has come to bring division and a sword, not peace. He explains that following him may cause conflict within families, as one's loyalty should be to him above all. Jesus emphasizes the importance of taking up one's cross and following him, and that those who lose their life for his sake will find it. He also mentions the rewards for receiving prophets and righteous people, and the significance of even small acts of kindness. Jesus' mission is contrasted with the earthly realm, as he brings peace to those who welcome his disciples and their message of the kingdom. True peace and joy are found in a relationship of dependence on God, rather than seeking security and fulfillment in worldly possessions. Following Jesus requires giving up one's own agenda and finding satisfaction in God alone. Jesus calls us to seek his kingdom with all our heart, as that is where our true treasure lies. Greetings, friends. What a joy to share the Gospel with you. On this Monday of the 15th week in Ordinary Time, our Gospel comes from Matthew chapter 10 verses 34 through chapter 11 verse 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 a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, 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 disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns. With this passage, we come to the end now of what is called Jesus' missionary discourse in St. Matthew's Gospel. I think that the very first line of what we just shared is so key to understanding so much of Jesus' message. Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. It is that qualification, upon the earth, that is so important. The negative role Jesus plays, bringing division and a sword, pertains to the very specific place, upon the earth. In other words, to the earthly realm as contrasted with the realm of Jesus' heavenly kingdom, does his coming unmask the inner strife and anguish. We have already seen within this missionary discourse how the disciples of Jesus are meant to bring peace to all the places they go. Remember in verse 12 in this chapter, as you enter a house, Jesus says, wish it peace. But remember as well that peace comes to those who receive it, who welcome the disciple and his or her gospel proclamation of the kingdom. Jesus restates this at the very end of the gospel we just shared. In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, remember, he has taught his kingdom way. Specifically he reveals there that all life, all security, all true wealth is found in a relationship of absolute dependence upon God the Father. The power of God, Jesus has made present and active in his mighty deeds. In those deeds we see that God's power always works to heal and restore human beings and creation itself to life and its proper end. Those who receive the kingdom now present in Jesus, seeking to live his kingdom way by finding their security in God and in God's love, will discover true peace and joy. Those however who insist on searching for security and life in this world, its promises and possessions, will find nothing but inner anguish and ultimately distress in their relationships. We come again in this reading today face to face with the very heart of Jesus' kingdom way. Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me, Jesus says to us, is not worthy of me. Which is to say, only by giving our lives away in generosity will we ever find authentic life. Friends, let me tell you, I know first hand what it is to spend one's energy grasping for life, only to be left empty. Grasping for life, I found myself empty and at odds with so many people. Only to the degree, and I am learning, trying to walk this path, only to the degree that I stop the grasping, let go of my own agenda and desperate attempts at being loved, do I discover more and more the love freely poured out in Jesus Christ. Where do I seek security, fulfillment, happiness and satisfaction? What assets make up my financial, emotional, spiritual portfolios? Make no mistake about it, all those areas of life, material, emotional, spiritual, they all have their own portfolios. What are the assets, the realities I have invested in, hoping for strong dividends? God, and God alone has what it takes. This is the revelation found in Jesus Christ. God alone has what it takes to satisfy the human heart. Nothing else will leave us feeling empty and anguish. You see now why Jesus says, go, sell what you have and follow me. Lord Jesus Christ, reveal to me the truth of your kingdom way. In other words, please Lord, make your kingdom a reality to me. Help me to love it and to seek it with all my heart because you have already told us that where our heart is, there our treasure will be. Let my heart rest, reside in your kingdom. Oh friends, thank you so much. What a joy, a great joy to share the gospel with you. God bless you.