Sword of Jesus – Reflection on Matthew 10:34-11:1
As a child, I understood evil as visible and significant in scope. An example is that we practiced getting under our desks because of the threat of an atomic bomb. I know Satan is sneakier, hiding even within my thoughts, and I have to be on constant guard. Unfortunately, without most of them realizing it, the same applies to my family members, friends, and strangers. The sword of Jesus can help us cut away the part of us (or them) that we discern as evil without hurting what we love. During pruning, Christ strengthens and grows our ability to love. When cooperating, we will likely encounter a portion of our cross that deals with difficult obstacles to faith. Becoming righteous as a follower of Jesus gives us the ability to discern the other side’s attempts to make us fail.
Jesus Discourses with His Disciples by James Tissot (full resolution painting)
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Matthew 10:34-42 – Scripture*
Not Peace, but a Sword
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
37 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 the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Rewards
40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
Matthew 11:1 – Scripture (NRSV Bible)
1Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this daily Gospel reading and considering this Lectio Divina Matthew 10:34—11:1 Reflection – Jesus’s Sword.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the Matthew 10 Bible passage.
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