Sunday Meditation: A Cup of Cold Water

Today’s Gospel concludes Jesus’ discourse on discipleship, the second great sermon of the five sermons in Matthew.  Here Jesus provides the conditions of being His disciple and the rewards.

 

Jesus said to his apostles:

"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 a righteous man

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 the little one is a disciple—

amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."

Mt 10:37-42

 

So the conditions are hard: prioritize Jesus over your family and suffer crucifixion daily.

This week Bishop Barron’s homily explains it well.

 

Meditation: Acknowledging Jesus.

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."