"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” // Matthew 10:40

I've always struggled with receiving. Whether it's gifts, recognition, or help, I struggle to accept what others want to give. I don't love attention, prefer people to notice why and who I'm serving rather than what I've done—and my desire for control in these situations is always pride popping up like an ugly weed in the ground.

In today’s Gospel Jesus says, "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me" (Matthew 10:40). What a powerful image to contemplate. Every act of receptivity comes with a prior action of receptiveness. Receptivity is never a one-way street. It's layered upon layers of receiving over time. Even the gift of our salvation goes back thousands of years before Christ received the Cross upon His shoulders or Mary's fiat led to her receiving the Holy Spirit and conceiving Christ in her womb. The entire genealogy of Christ, which we can read about in the Old Testament, encourages us to appreciate all the small and large acts of receptivity throughout Salvation History.

When I recall times when I received abundantly from the Lord through prayer and the Sacraments, fully opening myself to His love and mercy, I am overwhelmed. It's like a cavern deep within my soul, opened to receive more of God. Letting myself live in my desire for more of the Lord allows me to receive from others, recognizing it is all a gift from God Himself. Why would anyone refuse a gift from God?

Sister, where in your life is God desiring to give you more of Him, both in prayer and through other people? Put your discomfort from attention, your false humility, and pride aside, and make room to receive God's abundance.