＊＊＊ 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 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 come after me is not worthy of me.  One who wants to benefit from his life will lose it; one who 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 a disciple of mine, I assure you, he will not go unre­warded.”

 hen 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：

 In this gospel, Jesus outlines the consequences of discipleship. Division will happen even within families as a consequence of following him. This happened in the early years of the movement while it struggled to keep alive the memory of Jesus. The first persecution of the followers of Jesus comes from their fellow Jews.

Some of them are close family and friends. The martyrdom of Stephen is the beginning of waves of persecution abetted by Temple authorities. That is why the early believers scattered themselves to the different territories of the Roman Empire. In all of these, Jesus presents hope for the few who would remain faithful to him. Those who help them will be rewarded.

After all, what they will do to his followers, they also do to him. So, discipleship is not just about hardship. It is also reward and the promise of life eternal. The last word of God is always positive and good.