15th Week in Ordinary Time
17th July 2023 (Monday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Exodus 1:8-14, 22
At that time: There arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if, war breaks out they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you, shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live”.
Psalm 124:1-3, 4-6, 7-8 (R. 8a)
R/. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 10:34-11:1
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For 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. And a person's enemies will be those of his own 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 his cross and follow 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 him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Following, tested!
Guidlines: Following Jesus calls for a radical and fundamental option for him. This involves an uncompromising fidelity to him{alertSuccess}
1. There are many followers of Jesus. But all are not worthy followers because they do not follow their Master’s way. Who then is a worthy disciple? What are some of the essential criteria? Two of the features are highlighted.
2. One is the highest love for Jesus. It surpasses even the natural and valid family love-ties. Jesus very clearly announces: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; whoever loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me”.
3. Here the point is not about not loving one’s own family. The real issue is no family love should be more than our love for God and love for the new spiritual family. This is a real pointer and poker to many followers of Jesus.
4. This applies both to the consecrated as well as the lay faithful. We must humbly realize that in the case of a good number of clergy and religious and family people, family attachments, family interests, and family benefits count more than the duties toward God and God’s people.
5. The second requisite for a true disciple is, to walk the way of the cross. There is no room for compromises, shortcuts, self-interests, easy gains, escape from the demands of discipleship, and fear of adversities. There is no other way than “taking up the cross and following the Lord”.
6. Following Jesus certainly leads to opposition and persecution. This is what the Israelites experienced in the land of Egypt. Their loyalty to the true God, Yahweh brought them opposition and hatred. This pushed them into slavery and persecution.
7. This is also the same thing which Jesus means when he says, “I have come not to bring peace but sword”. The sword symbolizes suffering and affliction. Following Jesus disturbs and shatters false peace that lingers in compromise. It is a peace that does not take a clear stand for the Lord. It is a peace that pleases humans at the cost of disloyalty to God.
Practice: Following Jesus demands paying a heavy price. But it is worth it. All who follow Jesus and support those who follow him, will for sure receive a great reward{alertSuccess}