St. Ignatius

St. Ignatius
Daily Ignatian Prayer and Reflection - Ateneo de Davao University Basic Education

Monday, July 14, 2014

Day 14, 2014 of Ignatian Reflection

Day 14, 2014 - Reflection on the Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:34-11:1


















4 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on 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 a man’s foes will be those of his own household. 37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41 He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

11 And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Reflection:

 It is very clear from the words of the Lord Jesus Christ that He also comes  to bring division.  What does it mean?  Does Jesus mean that He is also an author of chaos?  I think this is not what he meant.  I believe that the division that He is talking about is the consequence of His act of bringing the truth to the world.  The Lord brought to the world the Truth of the Father and the Truth is so disturbing.  Those who become familiar with the truth of the world  will find this truth somewhat annoying.

         In my simple understanding I can see that when Jesus started preaching the kingdom of God to His people, there was a resistance.  This resistance was coming from the impression that the Lord Jesus was to make a new religion.  He was preaching a new concept of belief. This was a  threat to the Hebrew people.  They loved their religion very much.  This religion has been there for so long a time.  So, it is just understandable that His coming would cause division even among families because there were many Hebrew people who  believed in Him.  Family members who believed in the Lord Jesus were in conflict with one another who were faithful to the established religion.

         This reality is also true today.   There are many beliefs that spread in our communities and they also caused many misunderstandings among members of the families.  Parents are angry with children who embrace a new faith group.  Lolos and lolas are becoming cold toward their children who turn from the family’s-loved religion.   

          However, there is another face of this statement of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This other face is the battle between Satan and the allies of God.  The war that He has in mind is not an earthly battle between nations.  But, it is a division between goodness and badness.  It is a division between two standards, the standard of God and the standard of the world.  Since the Lord Jesus brings the truth of the Father, He is disliked and angered by the world.  Those who listened to Him loved the truth. But those who did not like what he brought to the world hated the truth.

          The truth is embedded in love.  When one loves, he listens to the Word.  When one loves, he will not cheat, he will not steal, he will not destroy others, he will not kill, he will not covet his neighbor’s wife (husband), he will not covet his neighbor’s good, he will honor his father and mother and above all he will worship and adore only God.  But those who love the truth of the world, love to get rich and powerful by means of cheating, outsmarting others, violating human rights, abusing mother nature, and even making themselves god.

Reflection Questions:

What challenge have Jesus Christ brought to your life?
How have you been battling with the two standards?

How have this division made you closer or farther away from Jesus Christ?


Reflection by: Monica Cortes 
 Grade 7 St. Canisius




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