The Call, Cost, and Rewards of Discipleship, 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time, June 28, 2026

Gospel: Matthew 10:37-42

³⁷ “The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ The one who has found his ^[a]life will lose it, and the one who has lost his ^[b]life on My account will find it.

⁴⁰ “The one who ^[c]receives you ^[d]receives Me, and the one who ^[e]receives Me ^[f]receives Him who sent Me. ⁴¹ The one who ^[g]receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who ^[h]receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these ^[i]little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Gospel Commentary

This passage represents a sharp pivot from the intense demands of discipleship to the profound grace and reward of service.

The Demands of Discipleship (Verses 37–39) – “The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me…”

• In first-century Jewish culture, family was the ultimate safety net, identity, and economic engine. Loyalty to parents was enshrined in the Ten Commandments. Jesus isn’t telling His followers to literally hate their families; rather, Jesus is claiming a status that belongs only to God. By demanding absolute loyalty above the most sacred earthly bond (family), He is subtly asserting His divinity. True discipleship means that if a conflict arises between cultural and family expectations and allegiance to Christ, Christ wins.

Taking Up the Cross – “And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

• Modern readers often think of a “cross to bear” as a chronic illness, a difficult boss, or an annoying relative. But to Jesus’s audience, the cross meant only one thing: Roman execution. This is the first mention of the cross in Matthew’s Gospel, and it would have shocked the disciples.
• Following Jesus is not a self-help program. Taking up the cross means a radical surrender of self-will. It implies an initial, decisive choice to die to your own ultimate control and public reputation for the sake of the Gospel.

The Paradox of Life – “The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.”

• This is a divine paradox. If you grasp tightly to your own safety, comfort, and self-preservation (“found your life”), you end up missing out on eternal, transcendent reality (“lose it”). Conversely, when you surrender your earthly security for Christ’s sake, you discover your true, indestructible identity.

The Reward for Service (Verses 40–42)

• “Little ones” doesn’t just mean children; it refers to the disciples who are poor, vulnerable, and completely dependent on the hospitality of strangers as they travel.
• No Act is Too Small: In an arid climate, a cup of cold water was a basic act of survival, yet it required effort (getting water from a deep well). Jesus is teaching that God’s ways are vastly different from the world’s. You don’t have to be a famous prophet to please God; providing quiet, practical support to those doing God’s work is valued just as highly.

Reflection Questions:

For Personal Reflection

What is the “security” or comfort zone I am most afraid of losing if I follow Jesus wholeheartedly?

For BEC Reflection

What is one practical, small “cup of cold water” our community can collectively offer to someone who is exhausted or struggling in our neighborhood this week?