NOBODY BUT JESUS

“Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will turn against parents and have them put to death.” –Matthew 10:21

The Jewish Christians of the early Church often were rejected by their families when they became Christians and united themselves with Gentiles in the Body of Christ (see Eph 3:6). The Jewish Christians were sometimes betrayed by their family members, handed over to the authorities, and put to death. Thus, if Jewish Christians did not turn their backs on their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, sisters, and their very selves, they could not be disciples of Jesus (Lk 14:26). However, if anyone loses his life (Lk 9:24) and his family for Jesus’ sake, he will receive “a hundred times as many homes, brothers and sisters, mothers, children and property – and persecution besides – and in the age to come, everlasting life” (Mk 10:30).

The Lord commands us to love the members of our family. If we don’t provide for the needs of our family members, we have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers (1 Tm 5:8). However, our personal relationship with Jesus is in a class by itself. Jesus should be first in our lives, and our family is second. Our bond with Jesus is supreme (Catechism, 1619).

PRAYER: Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All (see Jn 20:28).
PROMISE: “I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for My wrath is turned away from them.” —Hos 14:5
PRAISE: St. Henry, King of Bavaria, came from a holy family. His brother became a bishop, his sister married a saint, and another sister became abbess of a monastery. Finally, his wife also became a canonized saint.