Whoever receives you receives me

Reading 1 EX 1and8-14, 22 A new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt.He said to his subjects, Look how numerous and powerfulthe people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than we ourselves!Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increaseotherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemiesto fight against us, and so leave our country. Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the children of Israelto oppress them with forced labor.Thus they had to build for Pharaohthe supply cities of Pithom and Raamses.Yet the more they were oppressed,the more they multiplied and spread.The Egyptians, then, dreaded the children of Israeland reduced them to cruel slavery,making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brickand all kinds of field work—the whole cruel fate of slaves.Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects, Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews,but you may let all the girls live. Responsorial Psalm PS 124and1B-3, 4-6, 7-8 R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.Had not the LORD been with us–let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–When men rose up against us,then would they have swallowed us alive,When their fury was inflamed against us.R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.Then would the waters have overwhelmed usThe torrent would have swept over usover us then would have sweptthe raging waters.Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave usa prey to their teeth.R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.We were rescued like a birdfrom the fowlers’ snareBroken was the snare,and we were freed.Our help is in the name of the LORD,who made heaven and earth.R. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Alleluia MT 5:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel MT 10:34—11:1 Jesus said to his Apostlesand Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.I have come to bring not peace but the sword.For I have come to seta man against his father,a daughter against her mother,and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-lawand one’s enemies will be those of his household. 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 meand whoever does not take up his crossand 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 prophetwill receive a prophet’s reward,and whoever receives a righteous manbecause he is righteouswill receive a righteous man’s reward.And whoever gives only a cup of cold waterto one of these little ones to drinkbecause he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward. When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.