Matthew 10:34-11:1 NRSVue

³⁴“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.

³⁵For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, ³⁶and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

³⁷“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, ³⁸and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

⁴⁰“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹Whoever 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, ⁴²and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

¹Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
Isn’t it strange that we save our life by losing it? As if we lost all our money by saving it. It’s only when energies go into the good of others, rather than just for our own good that we can preserve and enhance our life. The self-centred person is the one who is caught up in controlling and preserving all for the self. Jesus is the opposite – he makes the best of himself for the betterment of others. Prayer helps this to happen for all of us.

Reflection
These are phrases of Jesus put together as part of what discipleship means. The priority of our relationship with him means not putting anything above him. All is enjoyed and experienced within our relationship with him. This may mean losing treasured bonds and taking up the difficulty of the cross.