Do not think that I have brought peace to the earth.

Jesus said to his apostles, “Do not think that I have brought peace to the earth. I did not bring peace, but a sword. I came to set a son against his father, a daughter against a mother, a bride against her mother-in-law. And their hosts will be enemies of man. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he that love son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for me will find it. He who receives you receive me. And he that receives me receives him that sent me. He who accepts a prophet as a prophet will receive the reward of a prophet. He who accepts the righteous as the righteous will receive the reward of the righteous. And whosoever shall give one of these little ones a cup of cold water, even as a disciple, verily I say unto you, He shall not lose his reward.
When Jesus stopped teaching his twelve disciples, he left to teach and preach in their cities.
Jeroboam was the son and successor of the famous and wise King Solomon. As he prepared his throne, old and experienced counselors advised him with moderation, kindness, and promises. The young people, in turn, told him that they had to intimidate the people so that their subjects might fear him, and so they obeyed him. Jeroboam put the words of the young. He promised nothing, on the contrary, he asked and threatened. The harsh speech caused dissatisfaction and the disintegration of the kingdom.

Even when listening to the Lord Jesus, the question arises: Was the Master a psychologist who can and wants to gain listeners? Even with the promise of the Eucharist, many of his disciples said, “It is a hard saying! Who can hear this ?! ”(John 6:60). The words of the Gospel sound similar. These words may seem harsh and exaggerated to us.

Jesus says, “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:37). To whom these demands seem exaggerated, he must realize that the Lord Jesus speaks over time and speaks of eternity. “.. , and he who loses his life for me will find it “(Mt 10:39). Eternity is infinite, so the requirements to achieve eternity must be demanding. Whoever wants to understand the words and requirements of Christ must ask for grace, for enlightenment.

“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37). Will we understand the correct words of Christ today?

To better understand this, let’s explain it with an example from life:
In June, when beautiful roses bloom in the gardens, we remember St. Alloys. He was born to blossom the roses of power and fame, wealth and military success, happiness in conjugal love. However, Alloys chose modest violets of religious vows of purity, poverty and obedience in the Jesuit order. Gonzalo’s father did not even want to hear about his son’s decision. There was a sharp dispute between the father-commander, who was used to giving orders without distraction, and the son, who had Gonzalo’s blood flowing in his veins, who disliked to retreat. The father finally gave in and Alloys was accepted into the novitiate. He lived in separation from the world for six years. When the plague broke out, the young cleric volunteered to treat the sick. Soon, however, he fell ill himself. His young body struggled for life for three months. He eventually succumbed to the disease. Saint Alois dies as a 23-year-old boy. Here we can see the fulfillment of Jesus’ words: “He who loses his life for me will find it” (Mt 10:39).

The case of St. Alois is not unique. St. Stanislav Kostka and St. Alfonso had similar difficulties and the choice of love between their parents and Christ.
Even in our daily lives, we know of several cases of disagreement between parents and a son who wanted to be a priest, and parents wanted to have a doctor, an engineer. We know the contradictions in the family, where the daughter, despite the mockery of her siblings and the disapproval of her parents, despised the world and went to a convent to serve the suffering as a simple nun.

These poor in spirit have understood that whoever finds his life only here on earth will lose it. He will lose eternity. But he who loses his life for Christ on earth will find him in eternity. People often see the right life in the pursuit of happiness, in wealth and enjoyment, in work, in sins. Renunciation, service to others is considered a spoil of life, but according to Christ, only such will find their way to eternity.

The Lord Jesus tells us today that he who lives according to his teachings receives him. And he that receives Christ receives him that sent me, even God. Finally, we heard the value of rewards: “He who accepts a prophet as a prophet will receive a reward as a prophet. He who accepts the righteous as the righteous will receive the reward of the righteous. And whosoever shall drink for one of these little ones a cup of cold water, as a disciple, verily I say unto you, He shall not lose his reward ”(Matt. 10: 41-42). Threats, but they are the words of eternal life, and he who understands these words will find the way to salvation.

Therefore, let us love our father and mother, but even more love the heavenly Father, with whom we are to be forever. Let us love the beautiful gift of life, which is a preparation for life in God. We accept the teachings of Christ because we receive God that way.