according to Saint Matthew 10.37-42
Jesus asks each of us an absolute love with no exceptions. Each one shall manifest it by the example of his life. In fact, facing to disasters, such as the loss of a son, there may be a rebellion, or even the faith loss, or the giving up to despair or vice, believing that God does not love us, or even that God is a myth.
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There are some who are deaf to the problems of others, those real and concrete that one can meet face to face in the course of each day, at home and outside, but they hope instead to solve the stratospheric ones, that is the 'politicians' who are beyond their possibilities.
So basically they do almost nothing but chatters.
Instead, charity is essential to be followers of Christ. I know of a person who, after the Sunday Mass was approached by a limping and in very bad condition fellow asking for help; He asked if anyone could give him a job.
He was no longer young, almost more than sixty, and he also had obvious physical problems: it was clear that no one should have ever given him a job.
That person, however, thought for a while, and the next Sunday after Mass, offered him a job as a gardener for a few hours a week, accepting the little that the other could do, but paying him well, as well as a healthy person.
To help the poor man, that person had to make sacrifices, that is, systematically to give up some things, like going on vacation or buying new shoes and clothes.
But from his sacrifices his virtue of strength had increased, such to help him to face the everyday problems with serenity and joy. There was also the consolation of seeing that this poor man had begun to live decently, taking certain medications that he needed, and doing everything at his possible best to show his appreciation.
So I think that to become follower of Christ, it is necessary to accept what God sends, because "he who does not take up his cross and follow after me" - Jesus says - "He is not worthy of me".
Then following Jesus does not mean that we have to be passive and fatalistic, but we still have to ask for his help and try with all our strength to improve our life in family and for ourselves.
The solidarity with others, as uppersaid, must be put into practice all around us, 'hic et nunc' (here and now), and the reward will not fail. "amen, I say to you" - Jesus repeats - "he will surely not lose his reward"
Lino Bertuzzi
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Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10.37-42
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple--amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."
