Monday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
Saint Henry
Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 10:34–11:1), Jesus speaks about the cost of discipleship, calling His followers to love Him above every other attachment and to take up their cross. Yet He concludes with a beautiful promise: “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.” These words reveal that discipleship is, above all, a relationship. To belong to Christ is to share in His own communion with the Father, and to be united so deeply with Him that welcoming a disciple becomes welcoming Christ Himself. Christianity is therefore not merely a set of teachings or moral obligations, but a living relationship with Jesus that transforms every human relationship. The closer we grow to Christ, the more His presence becomes visible through our words, actions, and love. Others should be able to encounter Him through us. At the same time, every act of hospitality, kindness, and openness toward those who bear Christ’s name becomes an encounter with the Lord Himself. Saint Henry understood this well, using his authority not for personal glory but in service of Christ and His Church. The Gospel reminds us that the heart of discipleship is communion: living so closely united to Jesus that our lives become a living reflection of His presence, drawing others into the loving relationship that He shares with the Father. Let’s reflect: Do I live in such a deep relationship with Jesus that others can encounter Him through my words, my actions, and the way I welcome and serve them?
Don Giorgio