Reflection Date: July 13, 2026 | Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Henry
Daily Readings:Isaiah 1:10-17; Matthew 10:34-11:1
Children of God:
In the early centuries of Christianity, one of the great controversies in the Church concerned whether Christians could serve in the Roman military.
Many early Christians hesitated to enlist because Roman soldiers were expected to participate in pagan rituals and offer sacrifices to the emperor, who was considered divine.
Some believers argued that military service conflicted with the teachings of Jesus on peace and love of enemies.
Others believed that Christians could serve honorably as soldiers while remaining faithful to Christ.
Several Christians who refused to participate in emperor worship suffered persecution and martyrdom.
One famous example was Saint Maximilian of Tebessa, who refused military service because he believed his allegiance belonged first to Christ.
His refusal cost him his life.
As Christianity spread and eventually became tolerated in the Roman Empire, the Church continued reflecting on the relationship between faith and public service.
This controversy revealed that following Jesus often required difficult choices and personal sacrifice.
The early Christians understood that their loyalty to Christ sometimes placed them at odds with society.
In the gospel story of Matthew, Jesus spoke very challenging words to His disciples.
He told them that He did not come to bring peace in the ordinary sense, but a sword.
Jesus knew that His message would force people to make choices, and those choices could even divide families and communities.
Jesus said, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37).
Jesus taught that God must occupy the first place in the heart of every disciple.
What are our inspirations for today?
First, faith sometimes requires difficult choices.
The early Christians experienced this reality firsthand: Some lost their jobs, their social standing, and even their lives because they refused to compromise their faith.
They understood that discipleship involved more than attending worship or professing beliefs.
It required concrete decisions that reflected their loyalty to Christ.
Jesus prepared His disciples for this reality. He knew that not everyone would welcome the Gospel.
Some family members would accept it, while others would reject it.
Today, difficult choices still confront Christians.
Some face pressure to compromise moral values in the workplace.
Others struggle to remain faithful amid ridicule or misunderstanding.
The Gospel reminds us that authentic faith often demands sacrifice.
Faith sometimes requires difficult choices.
Second, putting God first brings true meaning to life.
Jesus declared, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39).
These words seemed paradoxical, but listen: it means that people who live only for comfort, success, or self-interest will eventually discover emptiness.
Lasting fulfillment comes from living for God and for others.
Many people today seek happiness through wealth, popularity, or personal achievement.
While these things have their place, they cannot satisfy the deepest desires of the human heart.
When God occupies the center of our lives, everything else finds its proper place.
We become capable of loving family, friends, and society more authentically because our love is rooted in God.
Putting God first brings true meaning to life.
As we reflect today, we ask ourselves: are there areas in my life where I place personal comfort above fidelity to Christ?
Do I have the courage to make difficult choices when my faith is challenged? Is God truly the center of my life, or have other priorities quietly taken His place?
Children of God:
Jesus never promised that discipleship would be easy.
He honestly warned His followers that choosing Him could involve sacrifice, misunderstanding, and even conflict.
Yet He also promised that those who remain faithful will discover true life.
We too are invited to place Christ above every other attachment.
For in losing ourselves for Christ, we ultimately find the fullness of life.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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