Jesus knows in his heart that like the prophets of old, he will be a sign of contradiction. He predicts that he will suffer in Jerusalem. He also knows that those who follow him will share his fate. In sending the Apostles, he forewarns them of being misunderstood: no disciple is above his teacher (v 24). They, too, will share his fate. Later, he tells them plainly that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly, and adds, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mt 16:24).

Some preachers proclaim a “prosperity Gospel,” emphasizing that people will be blessed by God for embracing Jesus Christ. This is true, but this is only one side of the coin. With the reward of “a hundred times more” are “persecutions” (Mk 10:30).

Following Jesus without the cross is a misnomer. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian who defied Adolf Hitler and who was executed for it, speaks of “cheap grace.” It is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession.

It is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. On the other hand, there is “costly grace,” which is the treasure buried in a field; for the sake of it a man will sell all that he has (Mt 13:44).

Jacob gave his sons this charge: “Since I am about to be taken to my people, bury me with my fathers in the cave that lies in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, facing on Mamre, in the land of Canaan, the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for a burial ground.

There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, and so are Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there, too, I buried Leah—the field and the cave in it that had been purchased from the Hittites.” Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful and thought, “Suppose Joseph has been nursing a grudge against us and now plans to pay us back in full for all the wrong we did him!”

So they approached Joseph and said: “Before your father died, he gave us these instructions: ‘You shall say to Joseph, Jacob begs you to forgive the criminal wrongdoing of your brothers, who treated you so cruelly.’ Please, therefore, forgive the crime that we, the servants of your father’s God, committed.”

When they spoke these words to him, Joseph broke into tears. Then his brothers proceeded to fling themselves down before him and said, “Let us be your slaves!” But Joseph replied to them: “Have no fear. Can I take the place of God?

Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people. Therefore have no fear. I will provide for you and for your children.” By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them.

Joseph remained in Egypt, together with his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years. He saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation, and the children of Manasseh’s son Machir were also born on Joseph’s knees. …

“Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!”

Gospel • Matthew 10:24-33

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master.

If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.

What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.