Michael Whelan SM, PhD

In today’s Gospel – Matthew 10:37-42 – we hear some of the hard sayings of Jesus. Already in the Sermon on the Mount we have heard Jesus say: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). He challenges his listeners to ask the question: “Where is your morality grounded? Is it primarily a matter of conforming to cultural, social and religious customs and expectations? Is it a matter of simply doing what you, as an individual, happen to think at the time is right?”

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In today’s Gospel – Matthew 10:37-42 – we hear some of the hard sayings of Jesus. Already in the Sermon on the Mount we have heard Jesus say: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). He challenges his listeners to ask the question: “Where is your morality grounded? Is it primarily a matter of conforming to cultural, social and religious customs and expectations? Is it a matter of simply doing what you, as an individual, happen to think at the time is right?”

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In today’s Gospel – Matthew 10:37-42 – we hear some of the hard sayings of Jesus. Already in the Sermon on the Mount we have heard Jesus say: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). He challenges his listeners to ask the question: “Where is your morality grounded? Is it primarily a matter of conforming to cultural, social and religious customs and expectations? Is it a matter of simply doing what you, as an individual, happen to think at the time is right?”

Read More

In today’s Gospel – Matthew 10:37-42 – we hear some of the hard sayings of Jesus. Already in the Sermon on the Mount we have heard Jesus say: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). He challenges his listeners to ask the question: “Where is your morality grounded? Is it primarily a matter of conforming to cultural, social and religious customs and expectations? Is it a matter of simply doing what you, as an individual, happen to think at the time is right?”

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For the Christian, the deepest human aspirations are found in Jesus Christ. What we most aspire to emerges only when we are one with Jesus. We are baptized into Christ – see Romans 6:3 – and find our identity, fulfilment and moral integrity in him. We are reminded of this in the Great Doxology at Mass. At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, the consecrated Bread and Wine are held up and the proclamation is made: “Through him, with him and in him, O God almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever!”

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Jesus gives the disciples authority to continue his mission in bringing about the reign of God. In a real sense, the disciples – all disciples, including you and me – are called to be Christ in the world. We need the authority – ie power of Christ’s Spirit – to carry through on this and to protect us from its inherent dangers.

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For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (6:32-33). “Eating” this “bread” is our “Amen!” to the invitation to participate in the life of the Trinity. 

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In today’s Gospel – John 20:19-31 – we hear of an apparently incidental action by Jesus – he breathes on the disciples. In fact, this action has profound symbolism. 

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In today’s Gospel – John 20:19-31 – we hear of an apparently incidental action by Jesus – he breathes on the disciples. In fact, this action has profound symbolism. 

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In today’s Gospel – John 20:19-31 – we hear of an apparently incidental action by Jesus – he breathes on the disciples. In fact, this action has profound symbolism. 

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