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Monday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time C, I: Exodus 1:8–14, 22; Psalm 124:1b–3, 4–6, 7–8; Matthew 10:34—11:1

There is something about today’s readings that shakes us out of our comfort zones. They are not the kind of texts you would choose if you were writing an encouraging Instagram post or sending a feel-good card. Yet here they are, placed before us by the Church, not to discourage, but to wake us up, to challenge and strengthen us.

Jesus says something today that many of us might find jarring: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” That doesn’t sound like the gentle Jesus meek and mild we often picture. What is He getting at? He is not calling for violence. The “sword” is not a call to arms but a call to decision. It is the sword of truth. It is the division that happens when we take the Gospel seriously, when we choose God’s ways over comfort, convenience, or compromise.

Choosing Christ is not always applauded. In fact, sometimes it puts us at odds with those around us, even those closest to us. It is not that Jesus wants to divide families, but He knows that following Him will sometimes result in division. Light always exposes darkness. Truth always challenges lies. Love always unsettles hate.

But here is the good news: God is with us in the struggle. Just look at the first reading. The Israelites, once favored in Egypt, are now oppressed. They are forced into hard labor. Their children are targeted. Pharaoh, blinded by fear and power, wants to crush them. But what happens? The more they are oppressed, the more they multiply. The more they are afflicted, the stronger they grow. Why? Because God is with them even when He seems silent.

That is a word of encouragement for any of us who feel worn down by life, faith, or family tensions. God never forgets His people. He didn’t forget the Israelites in Egypt, and He won’t forget you.

It’s tempting to think that if we’re doing everything right, life should be easy. But Jesus never promised ease. He promised meaning. He promised joy that goes deeper than happiness. He promised peace that does not depend on circumstances. And He promised His presence, especially in the midst of the struggle.

The real invitation today is to persevere. To not be afraid of choosing Christ, even when it costs us something. To be faithful in small things. To love even when it hurts. To forgive when we would rather hold a grudge. To keep praying when heaven feels silent. That is the Christian life.

And here is the thing: the reward is not just in some distant future. It begins now. Jesus tells us, “Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones… will surely not lose his reward.” Even the smallest act done in faith has eternal significance.

So, if today finds you tired, misunderstood, or even rejected for your faith, take heart. The Lord sees you. He walks with you. His grace is more than enough. And like the Israelites in Egypt, you will grow stronger in the struggle, because the God who calls you is faithful, and He never abandons His own.

The Nursery for babies and toddlers is in the Pre-sacristy room. Our Word of God program is tailored for children aged 4 to 7 years. It is offered during our weekly Mass on Sundays at 17.30. The children are invited downstairs before the Liturgy of the Word and return before the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The children are taught a Bible story (usually related to the Sunday readings), recite the Our Father, and complete a simple craft or word puzzle