Daily Word Of God
Matthew 10:34-40
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set son against father, daughter against mother, daughter in law against mother in law; a person’s enemies will be the members of his own household.
‘No one who prefers father or mother to me is worthy of me. No one who prefers son or daughter to me is worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Jesus says ‘Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me’
- Following in Jesus’ footsteps is a challenge to us with what Jesus Himself lives and upholds. Following Christ means all or nothing; we cannot serve God and also be preoccupied with material possessions.
- Jesus calls us each to “take up our crosses” as a way to fuller life. With God’s graces, we are called to bear our sufferings, afflictions, illnesses, disappointments, loneliness, the death of dear ones, family troubles and the like and unite them with Christ’s suffering on His cross.