From Fr Octavio

Matthew 10:37-42 | The Cost of Discipleship

June 28, 2026

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks words that might shock us at first: “Whoever loves father or mother… son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” He then tells us to take up our cross. This is the radical cost of discipleship.

In Jesus’ time, just like today, family was the foundation of life. So why does Jesus demand such absolute devotion? He is not asking us to stop loving our families. Rather, Jesus is teaching that God must hold the absolute first place in our hearts. When we make Christ the center of our lives, our other relationships do not suffer, they actually find their true meaning. Loving Jesus first teaches us how to love our families with his pure, selfless love.

True discipleship requires real sacrifice. It means choosing Christ over comfort, and his truth over the world’s approval. Jesus never forces himself on us; he invites us to make a choice. Carrying our cross means dying to our own selfishness so we can truly live for him.

This may sound demanding, but we never pay the cost of discipleship alone. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we are welcomed into God’s family. Also, God provides his abundant grace, especially through the Eucharist and Confession, to strengthen us when the road gets difficult.

So, what is our reward for this sacrifice? Jesus promises that whoever welcomes him welcomes his Father. We see this practically when we welcome and serve others, not for what they can do for us, but simply because they belong to Christ. As the Gospel tells us, even a simple cup of cold water given to a disciple will not lose its reward.

When we give Christ everything, we lose nothing. We gain a life of grace now and a heavenly family that lasts forever. Let us pray for the courage to embrace the cost of following Jesus Christ today.

Amen.

 Fr. Octavio Trejo-Flores, S.D.S.