Homily on Matthew 10:37–42
"Choosing Christ Above All Else"
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today's Gospel is one of the most challenging passages in all of Sacred Scripture.
Jesus says:
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
At first hearing, these words may make us uncomfortable.
After all, doesn't the Fourth Commandment tell us to honor our father and mother? Doesn't Jesus command us to love one another?
So what is Jesus saying?
He is not asking us to love our families less.
He is asking us to love Him first.
Because when Christ is first, we become better husbands, better wives, better parents, better grandparents, and better friends.
When God occupies the center of our lives, everything else falls into its proper place.
There is a story told about a young husband and father who worked long hours to provide for his family.
He loved his wife and children deeply. He rarely missed a soccer game, attended every school event, and worked tirelessly to give them a good life.
One evening his young daughter asked him, "Daddy, why don't you come to church with us anymore?"
He replied, "Honey, I'm working hard for all of you. Everything I do is for this family."
His daughter quietly answered, "Dad, I know you love us. But Mom says God gave us you to help us get to heaven."
Those words pierced his heart.
He realized that in trying to provide everything for his family, he had neglected the One who had given him his family in the first place.
He had made a good thing—his family—into the ultimate thing.
And only God can be ultimate.
Years later, that man would say that returning to Christ and returning to Mass was the greatest gift he ever gave his family.
My brothers and sisters, that story reminds us that our greatest responsibility is not simply to make a living, but to help one another reach eternal life.
And that is exactly what Jesus is teaching us today.
Jesus says:
"Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me."
Notice that Jesus does not say if a cross comes.
He says take up your cross.
Every disciple has one.
For some, it is illness.
For others, it is loneliness.
For some, it is caring for an aging spouse or parent.
For others, it is financial stress, family conflict, addiction, or grief.
The Christian life has never been about avoiding crosses.
It has always been about carrying them with Jesus.
Because a cross carried with Christ becomes the path to resurrection.
But if we're honest, many of us spend our lives trying to avoid crosses rather than embrace them.
And Jesus addresses that tendency directly.
Jesus says:
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
The world tells us:
"Look out for yourself."
"Make yourself happy."
"Do whatever feels good."
"Live for yourself."
Jesus says something radically different:
"Give yourself away."
True joy is not found in self-preservation.
It is found in self-giving.
Ask any loving parent or grandparent.
The greatest moments in life are often the sacrifices we make for those we love.
The sleepless nights with a newborn.
The years spent caring for an aging parent.
The sacrifices made for children and grandchildren.
Love always costs something.
And the deeper the love, the greater the sacrifice.
Jesus Himself proved that on Calvary.
Men, fathers, grandfathers, husbands—this Gospel speaks directly to you.
The world often tells men that success is measured by money, status, or achievements.
But Christ measures greatness differently.
Great men are men who sacrifice.
Great fathers lead their families to God.
Great husbands love their wives as Christ loves the Church.
Your children will probably forget many of the gifts you bought them.
But they will never forget seeing you pray.
They will never forget seeing you kneel at Mass.
They will never forget seeing you ask forgiveness when you were wrong.
They will never forget your example.
One of the greatest gifts a man can give his family is his faith.
And women, mothers, and grandmothers have an extraordinary role as well.
Many women are the spiritual heart of their families.
You pray.
You encourage.
You sacrifice.
You worry.
You carry children and grandchildren in your hearts every day.
Never underestimate the power of your witness.
Think of St. Monica, whose persistent prayers helped bring about the conversion of her son Augustine.
Many of you are praying for children who no longer practice the faith.
Do not give up.
Keep praying.
Keep loving.
Keep trusting.
God hears every prayer.
The Gospel concludes with what seems like a very small gesture.
Jesus says:
"Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple... will surely not lose his reward."
What a beautiful promise.
Jesus notices everything.
No act of love is too small.
A phone call.
A kind word.
A meal brought to someone who is sick.
A visit to the lonely.
A prayer offered quietly for another.
A grandparent teaching a child the Sign of the Cross.
These small acts may seem insignificant.
But in God's Kingdom, small acts done with great love change the world.
My brothers and sisters, today's Gospel invites us to ask three important questions:
Is Christ truly first in my life?
What cross is Jesus asking me to carry with Him?
How can I show Christ's love through small acts of kindness this week?
When we place Jesus first, everything else begins to make sense.
Our families become stronger.
Our sacrifices gain meaning.
Our crosses become bearable.
And our lives become a witness to the world.
May we have the courage this week to choose Christ above all else, to carry our crosses faithfully, and to love generously.
For whoever loses his life for Christ will discover the life he has always been searching for.
Amen.
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