The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that we are likely to encounter division and denial as we journey as followers of Jesus Way.
The reading from the Book of Exodus sets the stage for the oppression of the Hebrew people in Egypt.
* [1:8] Who knew nothing of Joseph: the nuance intended by the Hebrew verb “know” here goes beyond precise determination. The idea may be not simply that a new king came to power who had not heard of Joseph but that this king ignored the services that Joseph had rendered to Egypt, repudiating the special relationship that existed between Joseph and his predecessor on the throne.
* [1:10] Increase: Pharaoh’s actions thereby immediately pit him against God’s will for the Israelites to multiply; see note on v. 7 above.
* [1:11] Pharaoh: not a personal name, but a title common to all the kings of Egypt.
* [1:14] Mortar: either the wet clay with which the bricks were made, as in Na 3:14, or the cement used between the bricks in building, as in Gn 11:3. (Exodus, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 124 is a thanksgiving to God.
* [Psalm 124] A thanksgiving which teaches that Israel’s very existence is owed to God who rescues them. In the first part Israel’s enemies are compared to the mythic sea dragon (Ps 124:2b–3a; cf. Jer 51:34) and Flood (Ps 124:3b–5; cf. Is 51:9–10). The Psalm heightens the malice of human enemies by linking them to the primordial enemies of God’s creation. Israel is a bird freed from the trapper’s snare (Ps 124:6–8)—freed originally from Pharaoh and now from the current danger.
* [124:8] Our help is in the name: for the idiom, see Ex 18:4. (Psalms, PSALM 124 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shares a Cause of Division, the Conditions of Discipleship and Rewards destined to those who offer support.
* [10:32–33] In the Q parallel (Lk 12:8–9), the Son of Man will acknowledge those who have acknowledged Jesus, and those who deny him will be denied (by the Son of Man) before the angels of God at the judgment. Here Jesus and the Son of Man are identified, and the acknowledgment or denial will be before his heavenly Father.
* [10:38] The first mention of the cross in Matthew, explicitly that of the disciple, but implicitly that of Jesus (and follow after me). Crucifixion was a form of capital punishment used by the Romans for offenders who were not Roman citizens.
* [10:39] One who denies Jesus in order to save one’s earthly life will be condemned to everlasting destruction; loss of earthly life for Jesus’ sake will be rewarded by everlasting life in the kingdom.
* [10:40–42] All who receive the disciples of Jesus receive him, and God who sent him, and will be rewarded accordingly.
* [10:41] A prophet: one who speaks in the name of God; here, the Christian prophets who proclaim the gospel. Righteous man: since righteousness is demanded of all the disciples, it is difficult to take the righteous man of this verse and one of these little ones (Mt 10:42) as indicating different groups within the followers of Jesus. Probably all three designations are used here of Christian missionaries as such. (Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Eileen Wirth is grateful to share pews with inspiring people and grateful for a program that strengthened her already strong sense of community. How rewarding to learn that retired nurses and teachers can exemplify today’s gospel along with martyrs and heroes.
Incidentally, St. John’s used the “synodality model” to frame these discussions. In this model, all participants must speak about themselves, listen to everyone else then share their reactions to what others have said. Even people who normally would never discuss their prayer life or something as pretentious as their life mission opened up because the format required them to do so. (Wirth, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “How peace requires a sword,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"What sort of peace is it that Jesus asks them to pronounce upon entering each house? And what kind of peace is it of which the angels sing, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace'? And if Jesus came not to bring peace, why did all the prophets publish peace as good news? Because this more than anything is peace: when the disease is removed. This is peace: when the cancer is cut away. Only with such radical surgery is it possible for heaven to be reunited to earth. Only in this way does the physician preserve the healthy tissue of the body. The incurable part must be amputated. Only in this way does the military commander preserve the peace: by cutting off those in rebellion. Thus it was also in the case of the tower of Babel, that their evil peace was ended by their good discord. Peace therefore was accomplished. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 35.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 10:34–11:1 comments that every day we face a myriad of opportunities to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Some days these crosses might seem small and insignificant. But the more we “lose” our lives for others, the more we will “find” Jesus. And finding him more, we’ll be filled with more of his self-giving love, and we’ll become more like him. Then we will be able to joyfully embrace the unavoidable crosses that will come our way.
This is how Jesus invites you to follow him. He is the way and the reward! Ask him for the grace to offer yourself for others today, just as he so willingly offered himself for you!
“Jesus, I want to follow you. Help me to take up my cross!” (Meditation on Matthew 10:34–11:1, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Exodus 1 is the beginning of the story of Moses. The Pharaoh is never named, to show powerlessness, and orders the murder of the male children. This may follow fear of a second Semitic takeover of Egypt? The second great discourse in Matthew, of Five, like the Pentateuch, proclaims a new Law for a New Israel that will result in Division. Christians will be opposed and have to take up their cross and die for Him. If anyone is kind that person would receive a reward. Friar Jude often thinks of St. Therese of Lisieux who never entered a mission land but is the model of our call to foster mission in others.
Richard Rohr describes periods of darkness, confusion, and struggle as necessary for our transformation and growth. There’s a darkness where we are led by our own stupidity, our own sin (the illusion of separation), our own selfishness, by living out of the false or separate self. We have to work our way back out of this kind of darkness with brutal honesty, confession, surrender, forgiveness, apology, and restitution. It may feel simultaneously like dying and being liberated.
Of course, the dark night we get ourselves into by our own “sinful” choices can also become the darkness of God. Regardless of the cause, the dark night is an opportunity to look for and find God—in new forms and ways. Neither God nor goodness exist only in the light but permeate all places, seen and unseen. It seems we have to “unknow” a bit every time we want to know in a new way. It’s like putting your car in reverse in the mud and snow so that you can gain a new track and better traction.
Periods of seemingly fruitless darkness may in fact highlight all the ways we rob ourselves of wisdom by clinging to the light. Who grows by only looking on the bright side of things? It is only when we lose our certainties that we will be able to deconstruct our false images of God to discover the Absolute Reality beneath all our egoic fantasies and fears. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the paradox of the division we encounter as we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit to live the example of the Prince of Peace in our relationship with the people in our environment.
References
Exodus, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/1?8
Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?34
Meditation on Matthew 10:34–11:1. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/07/14/1331837/
Psalms, PSALM 124 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/124?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/two-sides-of-darkness/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Have Not Come to Bring Peace, but a Sword. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jul14
Wirth, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflection July 14. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-14-2025
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