Daily Catholic Lectio
Mon, 15 July 2024
Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time – Monday
Isaiah 1:11-17. Matthew 10:34-11:1
I brought the sword!
The ‘missionary discourse’ of the Gospel of Matthew ends in today’s gospel reading. Jesus concludes his discourse with the metaphor of ‘sword’: “I have come not to bring peace, but the sword.” Jesus uses ‘sword’ to denote ‘division or separation.’ The division occurs when decisions are made.
Marcus Aurelius classifies the people of this world into two categories: “those who are successful and those who are not able to take decisions.” A person who decides on a particular thing wins. Discipleship implies such a choice. Decision-making involves a separation or a division. How? In order to decide to sit and write this reflection, I must separate myself from my lower self, who wants to take a rest or watch Instagram reels. This forceful separation is the ‘sword’ that I experience.
The first question that we need to ask today is: “Am I able to decide on the priorities of my life and stand by them?”
Further, Jesus proposes three characteristic features of a disciple:
(a) Loving without distractions
The disciple who chooses to love Jesus must not yield to distractions. His love must be undivided, and his commitment must be focused. When we embrace the priorities of life, we must hold on to them fully. 50-50 discipleship and 50-50 commitment are not recommended. Full commitment or no commitment.
(b) Welcoming without hesitation
A disciple is expected to accept Jesus and the one who sent him. He must get rid of his hesitations, stereotypes, and prejudices. In the same way, on our path towards success, we must get rid of hesitations. A hesitant person retreats, while a courageous person walks ahead.
(c) Doing good without expectation
Jesus promises that his disciples will receive reward or compensation. And he invites us to do good deeds. Often, our good works are loaded with expectations. When we want appreciation, recognition, and reward for our good works, we make them externally bound. Doing good for the sake of doing good is expected of us!
From today’s first reading, we decipher the mission context of the prophet Isaiah. The Lord God tells the people of Israel that he is fed up with their offerings, sacrifices, and feast – “they weigh me down, I tire of the load.”
The people of Israel minimised the understanding of ‘love of God’ to mere sacrifices. They abandoned ‘love of neighbour.’ The Lord instructs them, “Cease doing evil; learn to do good.” He wants them to show solidarity to the least in society – the wronged, the orphans, and the widows.
Love of God and love of neighbour must go hand in hand.
#
The pilgrims of hope learn to do good, and they persevere in doing good (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 148).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
Leave a comment