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; 38 and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 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. 42 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.
If we are disciples of Jesus we must be dedicated to him. The closest family relationships are not as important as taking up one’s cross and following Jesus. Anyone who loses his/her earthly life for Christ will find everlasting life with Christ. Whoever accepts the one sent by Christ accepts Christ, and whoever accepts Christ accepts the Father, “Whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me (Jn. 13:20).” Kindness to even the least of the followers of Jesus will not go unrewarded.
Almighty God, we serve your Son in this life not to receive an earthly reward but to have everlasting life with him. Grant us the grace to pick up our crosses and follow him as he drags his cross to Calvary for the salvation of souls. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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