Power not tempered with love will often lead to its own destruction. Better if there is recognition that our power if having any at all is given, by the Lord our God from above. And tempered with His love will bring only peace, comfort, mercy and love.
Still many choose to exact power over others insisting that they should bend their wills towards their very own. My way or the highway! Where is Christ Jesus in all their bravado? Where is the mercy, love and compassion? That is why if a family is not centred on the values of Christian living placing Christ first above all things and all persons then that family will eventually fall apart. Likewise for community and church. If we do not welcome the prophets amongst us, how will we hear the message of the Lord our God meant for our ears? How will hearts of stone ever be changed into flesh? How will we see the wonders of His hand in the beauty that surround us? How will we feels His great love for us?
Our mission begins with carrying our Cross to follow our Master, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Only true humble servitude can we effect change in the lives of many who do not yet know Him. Amen
First reading
Exodus 1:8-14,22 ·
The Egyptians force the sons of Israel into slavery
There came to power in Egypt a new king who knew nothing of Joseph. ‘Look,’ he said to his subjects ‘these people, the sons of Israel, have become so numerous and strong that they are a threat to us. We must be prudent and take steps against their increasing any further, or if war should break out, they might add to the number of our enemies. They might take arms against us and so escape out of the country.’ Accordingly they put slave-drivers over the Israelites to wear them down under heavy loads. In this way they built the store-cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. But the more they were crushed, the more they increased and spread, and men came to dread the sons of Israel. The Egyptians forced the sons of Israel into slavery, and made their lives unbearable with hard labour, work with clay and with brick, all kinds of work in the fields; they forced on them every kind of labour.
Pharaoh then gave his subjects this command: ‘Throw all the boys born to the Hebrews into the river, but let all the girls live.’
Gospel
Matthew 10:34-11:1
It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.
‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.
‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.
‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.
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