Monday 17 July

Exodus 1:8–14,22; Psalm 124;
Matthew 10:34–11:1

The bottom line

The family divisions and betrayals described in the mission discourse were part of the communal experience of early Christians and were to be expected because of the choice to follow Jesus. Total attachment to Jesus was the bottom line. In both similar and different ways, this pathway of faith is required of disciples today whose primary vocation is their call to family life. Jesus speaks of being ‘worthy’ of him. Biblically being ‘worthy’ means willingness to receive God’s mercy. How willing am I to receive God’s mercy as I ‘take up the cross and follow’ Jesus?