MONDAY OF THE FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME JULY 12, 2021

MASS READINGS:

A reading of the Gospel according to Mt 10:34—11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household. “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; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 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. 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.” When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

REFLECTION

“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;

Jesus is preparing His apostles for their calling. We belong first to God before others can claim us.

Priests belong to the Kingdom of God over their parents. To fulfill the work of God they must be free of all detachments. So when God calls, looking toward God and faithful to His Will is the best approach. We, as mothers, should be happy that our sons are called to be priests and not consider the call a "sacrifice" either by our sons or by us.

It is a great honor and blessing when our sons are called by God. The priestly vocation is a blessing and a great good. They have been called to be warriors in the battle between good and evil. They will be working side by side with the Holy Spirit.

How can we surrender all control to God? Through Prayer we can find what God wants in our lives and be happy to render all to Him.

"Man by himself is nothing, but with the Holy Spirit he is very great." (Top Secret II, compiled by Father Michael J. Truongluan, C.Ss.R.)

God Bless You