2 Kings 4:8-11.14-16a,
Psalm 89:2-3.16-17. 1 8- 19,
Romans 6:3-4.8-11,
Matthew 10:37-42 Full Readings
Mission of God First
Today's Gospel and indeed the first reading is an invitation to our God's mission in the forefront of our lives. Others will come after and when the mission of God leads, others all will be a success.
The Gospel presents a collection of sayings of Jesus about the mission of the Christian apostolate and Matthew puts a whole series of daunting challenges. These sayings of Jesus remind us and make known to us the challenges involved in being a Christian not to take up Christianity without serious forethought for there is no such thing as non-apostolic Christianity, but by becoming Christians we take on a share in Christ’s own task of spreading the Good News. The challenge is great but the reward is certain.
First comes a trio of sayings to show the absolute priority of Christ’s claims, over the closest family ties, over life and finally over possession of one’s own self. Then comes a quartet of promises of rewards to those who welcome Christ’s messengers. The envoy is placed equal with the principal: Christ’s messenger is as Christ, Christ as his Father. Then in detail the reward for welcome of a prophet, of any upright person, and finally of the Christian in need.
When Jesus says, whoever loved his or her father or mother or sister or brother or any other family members than Him, is not fit for Jesus, he doesn't mean that we should hate our family members in the name of serving God. That's an extreme misunderstanding, in fact God wants us to love them even more because God Himself is love. What Jesus means is that our priority should be the mission of God, the love of God and then loving others will follow.
It's right and fitting to love God first because it's God who will teach us true love of loving others, even your mother or father or your children and siblings because as Christians our love for others should flow from God and Jesus Christ who are the source of perfect love. So if we don't love God first,then we will not love others with true love.
However, on the other side, Jesus means that nobody should stop you from doing the work of God. For instance, if you're going to church today and your sister tries to convince you to stay at home, you should not give in to her though you love her very much unless the reason for stopping you will be for greater service to God. If you give in to her, then you will have loved her more than Christ, of which Christ warns us against it.
We should follow the example of Jesus when He said, “my mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice” (Luke 8:21). This encourages us to give priority to the mission of God and nobody shouldn't stop us from serving God. This is because, as St Paul tells us in the second reading, we were baptised into Christ’s death and so that we are joined to him and will be transformed by his resurrection. Our life is now Christ’s life, though not yet transformed like his. By my baptism into Christ’s death, his death becomes mine. Christ’s story becomes my story. Christ’s strength becomes my strength. Christ’s body becomes my body. Christ’s risen life becomes my risen life. Therefore if Christ put God's mission at the forefront, then we who are baptised in his death, ought to follow what he did.
This follows also that if we want to save our lives and abandon the mission of God we will lose them as Jesus tells us, but whoever loses his or her life for the sake of the Gospel will regain it. As Jesus gave up his life for the sake of the of God's mission, we also ought to be ready to give our lives for the sake of mission of God.
Finally, Jesus tells us that whoever welcomes a prophet, or a righteous one, or whoever gives a cup of cold water to any of the little ones, will receive the reward. This is one way of aiding the mission of Christ. Not all of us will go to preach in front of people or to proclaim as anointed servant, but we can also take part in mission and aid the mission of Christ by helping the Gospel heralds. So we are encouraged to help our Pope, our bishops, our priests, religious men and women, catechists and all Gospel heralds in proclaiming the Gospel. Jesus really promises a great reward for us when we do that. A great example is seen in the first reading when a woman gave Elisha a resting house, and Elisha promised him a boy child of whom she got. This is how it will be with us when we help anyone of God's servants.
Reflect today on how you have been able to put God's mission on the forefront in your life. How have you been able to risk your life for the sake of the Gospel? How have you helped at least one servant of God in his or her mission as part of spreading the Gospel? Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you as you spread the Gospel.
Let us Pray
Lord, I want to follow you and you alone, Send me your Holy Spirit to always guide me that not one will ever take me from you. Amen
Be blessed.
May God help me to love Him above all things. Amen
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