A sermon on Matthew 10:37-42
By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
Catholic Hospital Chaplain
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
and HCP columnist
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is a righteous man
will receive a righteous man’s reward. (Matthew 10:41.)
I have wondered what is the reward?
Neither Jesus nor the Bible says what it is.
I found another place in the Bible to help explain what Jesus meant. It's Hebrews 6:10, which says, "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them."
God remembers everything you have done in this life. He promises to bring you a reward for the goodness that pours out of your heart. God said, "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done." (Rev. 22:12.)
What is the reward that God gives? There is a heavenly reward of joys for you that never end. We can get a taste of the Heavenly joys right here on earth.
I believe the reward is a joy that comes to those who bring joy to someone else. One of the greatest joys we can experience is the joy of restoration after loss. It is the joy you feel when you bring love to the lonely, restore hope to the hopeless, to lift the spirit of the dejected, to care for another's needs, to restore well being lost by sickness, and bring healing to the broken hearted. The reward God gives you will increase when you sacrifice your life to help another have a better life. Jesus compares the rewards to treasures.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21.)
I share the story of the mom and dad who found profound joy by restoring sight to their baby boy. After 8 weeks, the baby should start looking at his parents and smiling. Their baby only had a blank look. They knew something was wrong. It took 10 months to diagnose the problem.
After many tests and many doctors, it was discovered the baby had a rare eye condition caused by the mutation of a gene. There was no known cure for his blindness. But they didn't give up. The family was lucky to hear about a possible cure called gene therapy, but it is extremely expensive. The price of a single dose for one eye goes from $500,000 to $3.5 million. The insurance capped out quickly.
The father knew he would have to lose his business and almost everything he owned to pay the bill. He said, "I want my son to have a good life. I gladly give it all up for him."
The day came when the doctor removed the two white tapes covering the baby's eyes after the injections. He ripped off one tape and then the other. The treatment room was filled with hope that the prayers of so many were heard.
The baby's eyes remained closed at first. He slowly opened one eye and then the other. Baby looked down at the floor and then looked up to see his mother's face for the first time. He had a quizzical look on his face wondering, "Who are you?"
Then mom spoke his name. He immediately broke out a big smile accompanied by laughter. He knew by her voice, "That's my mom!"
The baby couldn't stop laughing as he stared into her face. The more the baby laughed, the more his parents cried tears of joy because their child was blind no more. Mom and Dad gave up everything they owned to see their baby have sight. The joy of this moment was the only reward they wanted.
Psalm 126:5 says, "Those who sow in tears will reap in joy." Your suffering and sacrifices are not in vain especially when you endure them to restore the joy of a better life to another who suffers. Even the smallest act of love will make you worthy to follow Jesus. Amen.