Sunday Reflection: Weekend of 2 July 2017
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Year A
Matthew 10:37-42
"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 the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 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; and 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.”
Reflection
Jesus made sure that the disciples had no illusions about what following him meant. At times they might have to make hard choices about family and friends; their lives would not necessarily be peaceful and easy, and they would encounter the cross in some form. At the same time every good thing they did would be known to God, even the simple act of giving someone a cup of cold water. The disciples and the people who received them would have their own reward.
God rewards us for our faithfulness, for making tough choices and for bringing his love to another person, even if we do that through small and seemingly insignificant acts. Everything matters to him so we should let no opportunity pass.
The reward will always be something that brings us closer to Jesus. There is no other reward with a similar value. In fact, the value of the reward is priceless.
“Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him... I can't do big things but I want everything to be for the glory of God.”
Saint Dominic Savio