"I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus. He must be my only love".

It is a profound expression of love, commitment, and a life lived in accordance with the values of the Gospel.

                                                         〜〜〜 St. Kateri Tekakwitha, 

 

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Exodus 1:8-14, 22

Then a new king

Who had not known Joseph came to power and said to his people, "The Israelites are more numerous and stronger than we are.

Let us deal warily with them lest they increase still more and, in case of war, side with our enemy,

fight against us and escape from the land." So they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor.

In that way they built the storage towns of Pithom and Rameses.

But the more they oppressed the Hebrews the more they increased and spread,

 

until the Egyptians dreaded the Israelites and became ruthless in making them work.

They made life bitter for them in hard labor with bricks and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields.

In all their work the Egyptians treated them harshly.

Pharaoh then gave this order to all the people: "Every infant boy born to the Hebrews must be thrown into the Nile, but every girl may live."

 

Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8 Our help is in the name of the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 10:34-11:1

Do not think that I have come to establish peace on 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,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Each one will have as enemies those of one's own family.

 

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 me,

is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life, for my sake, will find it.

 

Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes him who sent me.

The one who welcomes a prophet, as a prophet, will receive the reward of a prophet; the one who welcomes a just man,

because he is a just man, will receive the reward of a just man. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones,

because he is my disciple, I assure you, he will not go unrewarded."

When Jesus had finished giving his twelve disciples these instructions, he went on from there, to teach and to proclaim his message in their towns.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"The Just One who is the Truth."

The Second Vatican Council taught that "peace is not merely the absence of war;

nor can it be reduced solely to the maintenance of a balance of power between enemies;

nor is it brought about by dictatorship." Today's first reading describes a situation of dictatorship,

forced labour and violence to control the Israelites. Fearing their strength as they grew in number,

Pharaoh wished to maintain peace through oppression.

 

But true peace is the fruit of justice; injustice only bears the rotten fruits of fear and domination.

No true or lasting peace will ever be achieved among people, whether in a family, community or nation,

unless it is built upon truth and justice. And so, the road to reaching peace has many twists and turns,

since disagreement belongs not only to opposition,

but also to dialogue, as people struggle to understand what is right and just. This is why Christ's coming brings division,

rather than a false peace. Christ does not force us to welcome him; it is a free choice, one which is not shared by all.

Yet, let us pray that the search for truth will finally bring all people to the Just One who is the Truth.