Reflection for Monday July 11, Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1

(Jesus said to the Apostles) Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his 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 up his cross and follow after 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 the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”  

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was pondering on how he could bring peace to his fractured family. One night he had a dream and on that dream Jesus said to him, you need to become a priest for you to have healing in your family. But the young man was very worldly he loved the hedonistic lifestyle of this world. Yet he also loved dearly his family.  

So, he headed the voice of Jesus, he studied for the priesthood and whenever he had a vacation he would always gather his family for a recollection inside their house. To make a long story short, the once factional and fractured family slowly became unified. After a few years he eventually became a priest and true enough his becoming a priest ushered healing in his family.  

Jesus tells us in the gospel that HE is a cause of division and disunity inside a family. On the other hand Jesus is also a healing instrument inside a family. How would this happen? If you fight for the teachings of Jesus inside your family naturally there would be initial resistance and division.  

Members of the family would initially resist it but for as long as you will not give up. And for as long as you offer to Jesus whatever you do inside your family even if it causes initial division sooner or later there would be healing and reconciliation. Many of us already discount the healing power of Jesus but it has already been proven time and again that Jesus heals families.  

Have you tried introducing Jesus to your family through HIS life story in the bible?  Perhaps not yet, now is the most opportune time, do it slowly and patiently. – Marino J. Dasmarinas