Memorial of Saint
Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 389
Lectionary: 389
A new king, who
knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt.
He said to his subjects, “Look how numerous and powerful
the people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than we ourselves!
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase;
otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies
to fight against us, and so leave our country.”
Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the children of Israel
to oppress them with forced labor.
Thus they had to build for Pharaoh
the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses.
Yet the more they were oppressed,
the more they multiplied and spread.
The Egyptians, then, dreaded the children of Israel
and reduced them to cruel slavery,
making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick
and all kinds of field work—the whole cruel fate of slaves.
Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects,
“Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews,
but you may let all the girls live.”
He said to his subjects, “Look how numerous and powerful
the people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than we ourselves!
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase;
otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies
to fight against us, and so leave our country.”
Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the children of Israel
to oppress them with forced labor.
Thus they had to build for Pharaoh
the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses.
Yet the more they were oppressed,
the more they multiplied and spread.
The Egyptians, then, dreaded the children of Israel
and reduced them to cruel slavery,
making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick
and all kinds of field work—the whole cruel fate of slaves.
Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects,
“Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews,
but you may let all the girls live.”
Responsorial PsalmPS 124:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8
R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the LORD been with us–
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept
the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the LORD been with us–
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept
the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
GospelMT 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.
“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.
Meditation: "He who
loses his life for my sake will find it"
Why does Jesus describe his mission
and the coming of God's kingdom in terms of conflict, division, and war? Jesus
came in peace to reconcile a broken and sinful humanity with an all-merciful
and loving God. Jesus also came to wage war, to overthrow the powers and
principalities arrayed against God and his kingdom. What are these powers?
Jesus describes Satan as the ruler
of this world whom he will cast out (John 12:31). The battle Jesus had in
mind was not an earthly conflict between nations, but a spiritual warfare
between the forces of Satan and the armies of heaven. The scriptures make clear
that there are ultimately only two powers or kingdoms – God's kingdom of light
and the kingdom of darkness. John contrast these two kingdoms in the starkest
of terms: We know that we are
of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).What does Satan seek? To be the ruler of his destiny and master of his universe. Satan’s goal is to bring as many people as possible into his kingdom, and to neutralize or remove anyone who tries to stand in his way. Satan is fiercely determined to not rest until he has won over the hearts, minds, and souls of every person living on the face of the earth today. Satan is opposed to God and to everyone who swears allegiance to God's authority and rule in their lives. The evil one has but one aim – the complete domination of our heart, mind, and will to his kingdom. And he will use any means possible to draw us from good to evil, from truth to deception, from light to darkness, and from life to death. There are no neutral parties in this spiritual battle. We are either for or against the kingdom of God. The choices we make and the actions we take reveal whose kingdom we choose to follow. Jesus came to overthrow Satan's power and to set us free from everything that would keep us from the love of God and his wise rule in our lives – freedom from slavery to sin and our unruly desires, freedom from fear, greed, and selfishness.
When Jesus spoke about division he likely had in mind the prophecy of Micah: a man's enemies are the men of his own household (Micah 7:6). The love of God compels us to choose who will be first in our lives. To place any relationship or anything else above God is a form of idolatry. Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who they love first and foremost. A true disciple loves God above all else and is willing to forsake all for Jesus Christ. Jesus insists that his disciples give him the loyalty which is only due to God, a loyalty which is higher than spouse or kin. It is possible that family and friends can become our enemies, if the thought of them keeps us from doing what we know God wants us to do.
True love for God compels us to express charity towards our neighbor who is created in the image and likeness of God. Jesus declared that any kindness shown and any help given to the people of Christ will not lose its reward. Jesus never refused to give to anyone in need who asked for his help. As his disciples we are called to be kind and generous as he is. Jesus sets before his disciples the one goal in life that is worth any sacrifice and that goal is the will of God which leads to everlasting life, peace, and joy with God. Does the love of Jesus Christ compel you to put God first in all you do (2 Corinthians 5:14)?
"Lord, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has conceived the things you have prepared for those who love you. Set us ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit, that we may love you in and above all things and so receive the rewards you have promised us through Christ our Lord." (from A Christian's Prayer Book)
 Love is Demanding |
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Memorial of Saint
Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church
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Father Shawn Aaron, LC
Matthew 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.
Introductory Prayer: Almighty and ever-living God, I seek
new strength from the courage of Christ our shepherd. I believe in you, I
hope in you, and I seek to love you with all my heart, all my soul, all my
mind, and all my strength. I want to be led one day to join the saints in
heaven, where your Son Jesus Christ lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Petition: Jesus, I want to love as you have loved me.
1. Not Peace
but the Sword: Complacency can be
defined as "self-satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of actual
dangers or deficiencies". This is a false peace, even a harmful peace.
It is a self-satisfied peace that lulls us to sleep and can result in the
loss of those things that are truly most valuable in life: God, faith,
family, etc.... Jesus comes to interrupt that false peace by upending the
tables of our lives (cf. John 2:15) in an effort to awaken us to the dangers
that our false peace has blinded us to. As he drove out the sheep and oxen
from the temple, so, too, he will use circumstances, trials and difficulties as
his "sword" to drive out from our lives whatever is opposed to
God´s goodness and our own dignity.
2. Nothing
Before God: With this phrase we
start getting an inkling of the type of sword our Lord is wielding. He is
giving us a criterion that starts from heaven downward because he is trying
to lift us from the earth upward. What natural relationship is closer than
the one between a parent and child, especially a mother and child? Yet even
this bond must be subordinate to the love we have for God. Why? Well, no
creature, not even our parents, can bring us to the fullness of life and
happiness that comes only from God. God wants us to love him, not because he
needs our love but because we need him. He is objective reality, and we must
always move from the subjective to the objective if we are to possess the
truth. Jesus invites us to adapt our standards from the merely natural and
passing to the supernatural and everlasting.
3. Love of God
Is Inclusive Not Exclusive: Giving a cup of water to one of the least of our brothers and
sisters will not go unrewarded, and therefore, unnoticed. In this way, Jesus
shows that he is not calling us to a love of God that excludes others. The
standard of placing God first does not exclude love for mother or father,
sister or brother. Once we love God as he deserves, we will learn to love
others as they truly deserve. In fact, we merit the vision of the God we
cannot see by loving the neighbor we do see.
Conversation with
Christ: Lord Jesus,
following you demands my all, and at times it seems that I do not have the
strength to give what you ask. Help me to stay close to you in prayer and in
the sacraments so as to have the grace to live the standard of love and
generosity that you ask. Mother Most Pure, make my heart only for Jesus.
Resolution: Today I will make three acts of self-denial and offer them for
someone in need of prayers.
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MONDAY, JULY 15
MATTHEW 10:34 ̶ 11:1
MATTHEW 10:34 ̶ 11:1
(Exodus 1:8-14, 22; Psalm 124)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me" (v 39).
READING: Jesus exhorted the twelve apostles to have courage under persecution. He was aware that his message would not be accepted by everyone, and he warned his followers that members of their own families might be their adversaries. Those who wished to follow in his footsteps, must be willing to put the gospel before all else ̶ even their own lives. They must be prepared to be treated like the prophets of old who suffered forproclaiming God's word. The apostles were Christian "prophets" who would speak God's saving message of the new covenant. Whoever offered hospitality to them received Jesus himself and God who sent him, and theywould be rewarded for their kindness.
REFLECTING: Pray for missionaries whose lives may be endangered for preaching the gospel.
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, give me courage to proclaim your gospel as you did.
Memorial of Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church
Healed from a childhood disease by the prayers of St. Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure joined the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor at the age of 22. He studied theology and philosophy in Paris. Bonaventurewas a friend of St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of Theology, and a friend of King St. Louis. At the age of thirty-six Bonaventure was made General of the Franciscan Order. He succeeded in reconciling Aristotle�s learning to orthodox Augustinianism, and he was a proponent of moderate realism. His later mystical works bring the teachings of St. Bernard of Clairvaux and Hugh of Saint Victor to full flower.Bonaventure emphasized the total dependence of all things upon God, and he wrote guides to mystical contemplation. He also wrote the official life of St. Francis. Bonaventure spoke at the Council of Lyons, at which he was a papal legate, but died before its close. On hearing of his death, Pope Gregory X, who had appointed him cardinal bishop of Albano in 1273, declared that Bonaventure was "a man of eminent learning and eloquence, and of outstanding holiness, known for his kindness, approachableness, gentleness and compassion." Bonaventure was known as the Seraphic Doctor of the Churchbecause his warmth toward others was as a divine fire.
Thorns and cross and nails and lance, Wounds,
our rich inheritance . . .May these all our spirits fill, And with love's
devotion thrill . . .Christ, by coward hands betrayed, Christ, for us a captive
made, Christ upon the bitter tree, Slain for man--all praise to thee. --Saint Bonaventure
Our help is in the name of the Lord
'I have come to bring not peace but the sword.'No wonder the disciples were constantly confused after Jesus taught them. Hadn't he asked his followers to bring peace? Now he says he does not bring peace - quite a contradiction. As in all scripture, we have to look at this passage within the context that it was spoken.
Once the disciples choose to spread the good news, there will be inevitable division, even within their own families. The people will either be for Jesus or against him. Perhaps the 'sword' referred to is not that used in warfare. Instead, it may be the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit. Once we become convinced of the truth of the Word, do we stand up to be counted regardless of the division it may cause? Are we for Christ or do we prefer to maintain the status quo?
July 15
St. Bonaventure
(1221-1274)
St. Bonaventure
(1221-1274)
Bonaventure, Franciscan, theologian, doctor of the Church, was
both learned and holy. Because of the spirit that filled him and his writings,
he was at first called the Devout Doctor; but in more recent centuries he has
been known as the Seraphic Doctor after the “Seraphic Father” Francis because
of the truly Franciscan spirit he possessed.
Born in Bagnoregio, a town in central Italy, he was cured of a
serious illness as a boy through the prayers of Francis of Assisi. Later, he
studied the liberal arts in Paris. Inspired by Francis and the example of the
friars, especially of his master in theology, Alexander of Hales, he entered
the Franciscan Order, and became in turn a teacher of theology in the
university. Chosen as minister general of the Order in 1257, he was God’s
instrument in bringing it back to a deeper love of the way of St. Francis, both
through the life of Francis which he wrote at the behest of the brothers and
through other works which defended the Order or explained its ideals and way of
life.
Stories:
The morning of the
fifteenth of July, 1274, in the midst of the Second Council of Lyons, Pope
Gregory X and the Fathers of the Council were shocked to learn that toward dawn
Brother Bonaventure, bishop of Albano, had sickened and died. An unknown
chronicler provides his impression of the Franciscan cardinal: “A man of
eminent learning and eloquence, and of outstanding holiness, he was known for
his kindness, approachableness, gentleness and compassion. Full of virtue, he
was beloved of God and man. At his funeral Mass that same day, many were in
tears, for the Lord had granted him this grace, that whoever came to know him
was forthwith drawn to a deep love of him.”
Comment:
Bonaventure so united holiness and theological knowledge that he rose to the heights of mysticism while yet remaining a very active preacher and teacher, one beloved by all who met him. To know him was to love him; to read him is still for us today to meet a true Franciscan and a gentleman.
Bonaventure so united holiness and theological knowledge that he rose to the heights of mysticism while yet remaining a very active preacher and teacher, one beloved by all who met him. To know him was to love him; to read him is still for us today to meet a true Franciscan and a gentleman.
LECTIO: MATTHEW 10,34 - 11,1
Lectio:
Monday, July 15,
2013
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father,
your light of truth
guides us to the way of Christ.
May all who follow him
reject what is contrary to the gospel.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
your light of truth
guides us to the way of Christ.
May all who follow him
reject what is contrary to the gospel.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading -
Matthew 10,34-11,1
Jesus said to his
disciples: 'Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is
not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set son against
father, daughter against mother, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law; a
person's enemies will be the members of his own household. 'No one who prefers
father or mother to me is worthy of me. No one who prefers son or daughter to
me is worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my
footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone
who loses his life for my sake will find it. 'Anyone who welcomes you welcomes
me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 'Anyone who
welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will have a prophet's reward; and
anyone who welcomes an upright person because he is upright will have the
reward of an upright person. 'If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to
one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then in truth I tell you, he
will most certainly not go without his reward.'
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.
3) Reflection
• In May of last year,
the V Conference of Latin American Bishops, which was held in Aparecida in the
north of Brazil, wrote a very important Document on the theme: Disciples and
Missionaries of Jesus Christ, so that our peoples may have life”. The discourse
of the Mission of chapter 10 of the Gospel of Matthew, offers much light in
order to be able to carry out the mission as disciples and missionaries of
Jesus Christ. The Gospel today presents to us the last part of this Discourse
of the Mission.
• Matthew 10, 34-36: I have not come to bring peace to the earth but the sword. Jesus always speaks of peace (Mt 5, 9; Mk 9, 50; Lk 1, 79; 10, 5; 19, 38; 24, 36; Jn 14, 27; 16, 33; 20, 21. 26). And then, how can we understand the phrase in today’s Gospel which seems to say the contrary: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; no, I have not come to bring peace but the sword”. This affirmation does not mean that Jesus was in favour of division and the sword. No! Jesus does not want neither the sword (Jn 18, 11), nor division. He wants the union of all in truth (cf. Jn 17, 17-23). At that time, the announcement of the truth that He, Jesus of Nazareth, was the Messiah became a reason of great division among the Jews. In the same family or community, some were in favour and others were radically contrary. In this sense the Good News of Jesus was truly a source of division, a “sign of contradiction” (Lk 2, 34) or, as Jesus said, he was bringing the sword. In this way the other warning is understood: “I have come to set son against father, daughter against mother, daughter-in-law against mother– in-law; a person’s enemies will be the members of his own household”. In fact, that was what was happening in the families and in the communities: much division, much discussion, the consequence of the announcement of the Good News among the Jews of that time, because some accepted, others denied. Today the same thing happens. Many times, there where the Church renews itself, the appeal to the Good News becomes a ‘sign of contradiction’ and of division. Persons, who during years have lived comfortably in their routine of Christian life, do not want to allow themselves to be bothered by the ‘innovations’ of Vatican Council II. Disturbed by the changes, they used all their intelligence to find arguments in defence of their opinions and to condemn the changes considering them contrary to what they thought was the true faith.
• Matthew 10, 37: No one who prefers father or mother to me is worthy of me. Luke gives this same phrase, but much more demandino. Literally he says: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his sons and brothers, his sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14, 26). How can this affirmation of Jesus be combined with the other one in which he orders to observe the fourth commandment: love and honour father and mother? (Mk 7, 10-12; Mt 19, 19). Two observations: (1) The fundamental criterion on which Jesus insists always is this one: the Good News of God should be the supreme value of our life. In our life there can be no greater value. (2) The economic and social situation at the time of Jesus was such that the families were obliged to close themselves up in themselves. They no longer had the conditions to respect the obligations of human community living together as for example: sharing, hospitality, invitation to a meal and the acceptance of the excluded. This individualistic closing up in self, caused by the national and international situation produced distortion: (1) It made life in community impossible (2) It limited the commandment “honour father and mother” exclusively to the small family nucleus and no longer to the larger family of the community (3) It prevented the full manifestation of the Good News of God, because if God is Father/Mother we are brothers and sisters of one another. And this truth should be expressed in the life of the community. A living and fraternal community is the mirror of the face of God. Human living together without community is a mirror which disfigures the face of God. In this context, the request of Jesus: “to hate father and mother means that the disciples should overcome the individualistic closing up of the small family on itself, and extend it to the community dimension. Jesus himself put into practice what he taught others. His family wanted to call him to close himself up in self. When they told him: “Look, your mother and your brothers are outside and they are looking for you”, he answered: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And looking at the persons around him he said: “Behold, my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God is my brother, my sister and my mother” (Mk 3, 32-35). He extends the family! This was and continues to be even today for the small family the only way to be able to keep and transmit the values in which he believes.
• Matthew 10, 38-39: The demands of the mission of the disciples. In these two verses, Jesus gives important and demanding advice: (a) To take up the cross and follow Jesus: Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. In order to perceive all the significance and important of this first advice it is well to keep in mind the witness of Saint Paul: “But as for me, it is not of the question that I should boast at all, except of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world” (Ga 6, 14). To carry the cross presupposes, even now, a radical drawing away from the iniquitous system which reigns in the world. (b) To have the courage to give one’s life: “Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it”. Only the one, who in life has been capable of giving himself totally to others, will feel fulfilled. This second advice confirms the deepest human experience; the source of life is in the gift of life. Giving one receives. If the wheat grain does not die … (Jn 12, 24).
• Matthew 10, 40: The identification of the disciple with Jesus and with God himself. This human experience of donation and of the gift receives here a clarification, a deepening:”Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me: and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” In the total gift of self, the disciple identifies himself with Jesus; there the encounter with God takes place, and God allows himself to be found by the one who seeks him.
• Matthew 10, 41-42: the reward of the prophet, of the just and of the disciple. The discourse of the Mission ends with one phrase on reward: “Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes an upright person because he is upright will have the reward of an upright person If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, because he is a disciple, then in truth I tell you, he will most certainly not go without reward”. In this phrase the sequence is very meaningful: the prophet is recognized because of his mission as one sent by God. The upright person is recognized by his behaviour, by his perfect way of observing the law of God. The disciple is recognized by no quality or mission, but simply by his social condition of being least among the people. The Kingdom is not made of great things. It is like a very big house which is constructed with small bricks. Anyone who despises the brick will have great difficulty in constructing the house. Even a glass of water serves as a brick for the construction of the Kingdom.
• Matthew 11, 1: The end of the Discourse of the Mission. The end of the Discourse of the Mission. When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved from there to teach and preach in their towns. Now Jesus leaves to put into practice what he has taught. We will see this in the next chapters 11 and 12 of the Gospel of Matthew.
• Matthew 10, 34-36: I have not come to bring peace to the earth but the sword. Jesus always speaks of peace (Mt 5, 9; Mk 9, 50; Lk 1, 79; 10, 5; 19, 38; 24, 36; Jn 14, 27; 16, 33; 20, 21. 26). And then, how can we understand the phrase in today’s Gospel which seems to say the contrary: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; no, I have not come to bring peace but the sword”. This affirmation does not mean that Jesus was in favour of division and the sword. No! Jesus does not want neither the sword (Jn 18, 11), nor division. He wants the union of all in truth (cf. Jn 17, 17-23). At that time, the announcement of the truth that He, Jesus of Nazareth, was the Messiah became a reason of great division among the Jews. In the same family or community, some were in favour and others were radically contrary. In this sense the Good News of Jesus was truly a source of division, a “sign of contradiction” (Lk 2, 34) or, as Jesus said, he was bringing the sword. In this way the other warning is understood: “I have come to set son against father, daughter against mother, daughter-in-law against mother– in-law; a person’s enemies will be the members of his own household”. In fact, that was what was happening in the families and in the communities: much division, much discussion, the consequence of the announcement of the Good News among the Jews of that time, because some accepted, others denied. Today the same thing happens. Many times, there where the Church renews itself, the appeal to the Good News becomes a ‘sign of contradiction’ and of division. Persons, who during years have lived comfortably in their routine of Christian life, do not want to allow themselves to be bothered by the ‘innovations’ of Vatican Council II. Disturbed by the changes, they used all their intelligence to find arguments in defence of their opinions and to condemn the changes considering them contrary to what they thought was the true faith.
• Matthew 10, 37: No one who prefers father or mother to me is worthy of me. Luke gives this same phrase, but much more demandino. Literally he says: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his sons and brothers, his sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14, 26). How can this affirmation of Jesus be combined with the other one in which he orders to observe the fourth commandment: love and honour father and mother? (Mk 7, 10-12; Mt 19, 19). Two observations: (1) The fundamental criterion on which Jesus insists always is this one: the Good News of God should be the supreme value of our life. In our life there can be no greater value. (2) The economic and social situation at the time of Jesus was such that the families were obliged to close themselves up in themselves. They no longer had the conditions to respect the obligations of human community living together as for example: sharing, hospitality, invitation to a meal and the acceptance of the excluded. This individualistic closing up in self, caused by the national and international situation produced distortion: (1) It made life in community impossible (2) It limited the commandment “honour father and mother” exclusively to the small family nucleus and no longer to the larger family of the community (3) It prevented the full manifestation of the Good News of God, because if God is Father/Mother we are brothers and sisters of one another. And this truth should be expressed in the life of the community. A living and fraternal community is the mirror of the face of God. Human living together without community is a mirror which disfigures the face of God. In this context, the request of Jesus: “to hate father and mother means that the disciples should overcome the individualistic closing up of the small family on itself, and extend it to the community dimension. Jesus himself put into practice what he taught others. His family wanted to call him to close himself up in self. When they told him: “Look, your mother and your brothers are outside and they are looking for you”, he answered: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And looking at the persons around him he said: “Behold, my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God is my brother, my sister and my mother” (Mk 3, 32-35). He extends the family! This was and continues to be even today for the small family the only way to be able to keep and transmit the values in which he believes.
• Matthew 10, 38-39: The demands of the mission of the disciples. In these two verses, Jesus gives important and demanding advice: (a) To take up the cross and follow Jesus: Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. In order to perceive all the significance and important of this first advice it is well to keep in mind the witness of Saint Paul: “But as for me, it is not of the question that I should boast at all, except of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world” (Ga 6, 14). To carry the cross presupposes, even now, a radical drawing away from the iniquitous system which reigns in the world. (b) To have the courage to give one’s life: “Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it”. Only the one, who in life has been capable of giving himself totally to others, will feel fulfilled. This second advice confirms the deepest human experience; the source of life is in the gift of life. Giving one receives. If the wheat grain does not die … (Jn 12, 24).
• Matthew 10, 40: The identification of the disciple with Jesus and with God himself. This human experience of donation and of the gift receives here a clarification, a deepening:”Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me: and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” In the total gift of self, the disciple identifies himself with Jesus; there the encounter with God takes place, and God allows himself to be found by the one who seeks him.
• Matthew 10, 41-42: the reward of the prophet, of the just and of the disciple. The discourse of the Mission ends with one phrase on reward: “Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes an upright person because he is upright will have the reward of an upright person If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, because he is a disciple, then in truth I tell you, he will most certainly not go without reward”. In this phrase the sequence is very meaningful: the prophet is recognized because of his mission as one sent by God. The upright person is recognized by his behaviour, by his perfect way of observing the law of God. The disciple is recognized by no quality or mission, but simply by his social condition of being least among the people. The Kingdom is not made of great things. It is like a very big house which is constructed with small bricks. Anyone who despises the brick will have great difficulty in constructing the house. Even a glass of water serves as a brick for the construction of the Kingdom.
• Matthew 11, 1: The end of the Discourse of the Mission. The end of the Discourse of the Mission. When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved from there to teach and preach in their towns. Now Jesus leaves to put into practice what he has taught. We will see this in the next chapters 11 and 12 of the Gospel of Matthew.
4) Personal questions
• To lose life in
order to gain life. Have you had some experience of having felt rewarded for an
act of donation or gratuity for others?
• He who welcomes you welcomes me, and who welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me. Stop and think what Jesus says here: He and God himself identify themselves with you.
• He who welcomes you welcomes me, and who welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me. Stop and think what Jesus says here: He and God himself identify themselves with you.
5) Concluding Prayer
How blessed are those
who live in your house;
they shall praise you continually. Pause
Blessed those who find their strength in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. (Ps 84,4-5)
they shall praise you continually. Pause
Blessed those who find their strength in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. (Ps 84,4-5)
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