On the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 10:37-42
Our Gospel for today, though challenging, is essential in understanding the demands of discipleship and the depth of commitment required to follow Christ. Our Lord begins with a stark and uncompromising declaration: “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.”At first glance, these words may seem harsh and contrary to the natural love we hold for our families. However, to grasp the true meaning of Christ’s teaching, we must go deeper into the essence of discipleship.
Christ is not advocating for the neglect or abandonment of familial love and duties. On the contrary, the love we have for our family is a reflection of the love of God for His own people, particulary for His holy Church. What Christ is emphasising here is the priority of our love. Our ultimate allegiance must be to Almighty God. The love we have for Him must surpass all other loves. This does not diminish our love for family but rather places it in its proper context. When our love for God is foremost, our love for others is purified and elevated.
The call to take up the Cross and follow Christ further amplifies this commitment. “And whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” The Cross was a symbol of suffering, shame, and death. To take up the Cross means to embrace the path of self-denial and sacrifice. It is a life of enduring trials and tribulations for the sake of Christ. This is not an easy path, but it is the path to true discipleship. Our Lord Himself carried the Cross, setting an example for every one of us. In embracing our own crosses, we unite ourselves with His suffering and partake in His redemptive work.
Christ’s words, “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it,” present a paradox. In our human understanding, to find life is to preserve it, to seek comfort and security. However, Christ teaches us that true life is found in surrendering our own desires and ambitions for His sake. This means that it is necessary for us to make a serious reorientation of our priorities. We must have unwavering trust in the divine providence of God, to lose our life in the worldly sense in order to gain eternal life.
In verses 40-42, our Lord shifts His focus to the theme of hospitality and the rewards of welcoming His messengers. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Here, Christ speaks of the intrinsic connection between Himself, His disciples, and the Father. To receive a disciple of Christ is to receive the Lord Himself, and by extension, to receive God the Father. In the Didache, we read: “Whosoever, therefore, comes and teaches you all these things that have been said before, receive him. But if the teacher himself turns and teaches another doctrine to the destruction of this, hear him not. But if he teaches so as to increase righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. But concerning the apostles and prophets, act according to the decree of the Gospel. Let every apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord…receive everyone who comes in the name of the Lord.” (chapters 11,12) This teaches us about the sacredness of hospitality and the reverence due to those who come in the name of the Lord. From today’s Gospel, we also heard: “Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous.” In these words, Christ assures us that acts of kindness and hospitality, when done with a heart that is in harmony with the will of God, do not go unnoticed. Even the smallest act of kindness, such as giving a cup of cold water to one of the little ones, is recognised and rewarded by our Heavenly Father.
Christ calls us to reflect this divine hospitality. We are called to welcome Christ in the stranger and the needy. By doing so, we participate in the life of Christ and become conduits of His love and grace.
May each each of us examine our own lives. Are we placing God above all else? Are we willing to take up our cross and follow Christ, even when it leads to suffering and sacrifice? Are we extending hospitality and kindness to those around us, recognising Christ in each person we encounter? Let us pray for the strength and grace to live out these teachings in our daily lives. May the Holy Spirit guide us in our journey of discipleship, and may we always be found worthy of the call to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Seraphim Michael
Saturday, 6 July 2024
Saturday of the 7th week after Pentecost
Commemoration of our Our Venerable Father Sisoes the Great
