Download Suore Domenicane di Santa Caterina da Siena - Mt 10:37-42

Mt 10:37-42
Christ must be loved absolutely or He is not loved at all
A commentary on the Gospel according to Matthew (ch. 10 vs. 37- 42)
Jesus said to His disciples:
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;
Jesus our model and teacher laid down some seemingly heavy demands for
us in relation to absolute discipleship. The Kingdom imperative took priority
over family loyalties. Is this passage meant to contradict the 5th
commandment in the book of Exodus 20:12 or lessen the due respect and
affection of children to their parents? No! It is the duty of children to love,
honour and obey their parents... the doctrines of Christ do not break in upon
the ties and obligations of nature. They are undeniably very necessary for the
proper development of every human person, but the love of our parents
should yield to the love of God. Jesus makes it very clear that the inalienable
rights of family affection remain intact but in subordination to the love of
Christ. The intent of this passage is to show that as Christ is infinitely above
all creatures, he is to be loved above all creatures, above the nearest and
dearest relations and friends. Our first love and homage is due to God, we
must acknowledge our heavenly father even by displeasing parents, relatives
and friends. it is a matter of preference, of a love which could in some way
“ compete” with one’ s commitment to Jesus. For a true disciple, faithfulness
to Christ must rank above every other relationship no matter how tender or
close to one’ s heart. Christ must be loved absolutely or he is not loved at all.
The new life in Christ
transforms all
relationships!
Everything is viewed
in reference to Christ
to whom His
followers are related
to as mothers, sisters
and brethren
(Matthew 12:48-50).
For Saint Jerome “ This order is needed in every affection: after God love
thy father, thy mother, and thy children. But if a necessity should arise that the
love of parents and children comes into competition with the love of God,
where both cannot be preserved, remember that hatred of our kindred then
becomes love to God. He does not forbid us to love parent or child, but adds
emphatically, ‘ more than me’ . “ The 1st commandment of the Old
Testament is clear: ‘ You shall have no other gods before me.’ ... This
includes one’ s family. The Lord does not require us to love these less, but to
love Him more.
38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy
of me.
Pains and suffering are inevitable in our existence as humans but for the
followers of Christ it is of a profound significance and value. Jesus’ word can
be read on two levels: firstly, in terms of a Christian’ s willingness to embrace
suffering, shame and even death; and secondly that a Christian must model
his/her life on the example of Jesus Himself, which obviously involves carrying
the cross. This second interpretation is closely linked to the injunction to “ take
up the cross and follow after me” . Carrying the cross sums up all the
misunderstandings, sufferings, calumny, prejudices and rejection that we may
experience as ambassadors of Christ, which simply replicate in our lives the
experiences of Jesus while on earth. If a man would follow Jesus Christ, he
must say no to himself and yes to Christ. He must say no to his own natural
love of ease and comfort, to every course of action based on self-seeking and
self-will, instincts and vain glory in order to willingly and cheerfully accept from
the hands of our good God trials and sufferings. He knows best what cross
each can bear. He must be able to say with St. Paul, that it is no longer he
who lives but Christ who lives in him. He lives no longer to follow his own will,
but to follow the will of Christ, and in that service, he finds his perfect freedom.
Bearing our crosses patiently and willing after the example of our Model Jesus
Christ and submitting to all trials for the sake of God consists simply in doing
our duty with abandonment to the Divine Will and childlike trust in the
boundless love of God.”
39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for
my sake will find it.
He that shall save and preserve his temporal life at the expense of renouncing
the Lord shall lose it in eternity. One who denies Jesus in order to save this
earthly life will be condemned to everlasting destruction; loss of temporal life
for Jesus’ sake will be rewarded by everlasting life in the kingdom. This verse
illustrates the key irony of Christian life and witness that has inspired so many
tens of thousands of Christian martyrs to surrender their physical life for love
of God and thereby inherit eternal life with God. As Christians, we know that
life here on earth is not the be and the end of all; there is a greater life that
makes this life ephemeral by comparison; that is our ultimate goal and the
prize we hope to receive in the end. By keeping that goal in mind, we are able
to more easily prioritize our values in our daily choices. This opens us up to
consciously make sacrifices, serenely accepting the daily discomforts of each
day and to consciously deny ourselves some luxuries.. this gradually leads to
dying to oneself, to self ego, to one's own insatiable quests and tastes. It
opens us up to accept the assurance that God can do it, and has already
done it for us on the cross of Calvary...His grace is sufficient for us!
40 Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me
welcomes the one who sent me.
Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren that you do unto me (Matthew
25:40) Since the apostles are Jesus’ emissaries (an emissary is considered
to be an extension of the dignity and authority of the sender), the generosity
and kindness shown to them actually reflects on Jesus who sent them. Jesus
is also an emissary sent in the Father’ s name, so any act of kindness shown
towards these disciples, is indirectly but truly, an act of piety and religious
devotion shown towards God who is the ultimate Sender. This is one of the
many reasons why Christianity (especially Christian monasticism) has
always prized hospitality as one of the chief virtues, such that St. Benedict
could write in his Rule: “ Let every guest be welcomed as Christ.” An old
Celtic rune reminds us of the importance of welcoming others: “ I saw a
stranger yesterday. I put food in the eating place, drink in the drinking place,
music in the listening place, and in the blessed name of the Triune, he
blessed myself and my house, my cattle, and my dear ones. And the lark said
in her song, ‘ Often, often, often goes the Christ in the stranger’ s guise.
Often, often, often goes the Christ in the stranger’ s guise".
41-42 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, assuredly, I say to you he shall by no means lose his
reward".
To contribute to the needs
of a holy person or prophet
means, in some vivid way,
to share in the blessings
and reward that holy person
or prophet receives from
God. Generosity towards
God’ s messengers or any
act of kindness that
facilitates or makes
possible their service
enables one to
“ participate” in their ministry and by extension, to receive a share in their
reward. Not everyone is called to be a priest or a consecrated, but those who
support them morally and financially are “ sharers” in the sowing, and so will
share in the harvest also. This also is an encouragement and comfort to
those who by their donations, moral support, hospitality, availability and
prayers make possible the work of missionaries, priests, consecrated persons
and Church organizations. They shall certainly receive the reward of
righteousness together with him whom they have aided through their
supporting. Nothing is too small to offer to anyone for the sake of God...even
a cup of water...shall be bountifully rewarded!
Sr. Maria Ebele Okoye (Rome Via degli Artisti)
30 June, 2017
Copyright © 2017 Suore Domenicane di Santa Caterina da Siena