12 July, 2024 | Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

 HOS 14:2-10

Gospel  MT 10:16-23

Jesus said to his Apostles:

“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;

so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.

But beware of men, 

for they will hand you over to courts

and scourge you in their synagogues,

and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake

as a witness before them and the pagans.

When they hand you over,

do not worry about how you are to speak

or what you are to say.

You will be given at that moment what you are to say.

For it will not be you who speak

but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Brother will hand over brother to death,

and the father his child;

children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

You will be hated by all because of my name,

but whoever endures to the end will be saved.

When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.

Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel

before the Son of Man comes.”

 

Reflection:

Jesus, being quite forthright, warns his apostles well beforehand about what will be in store for them. They are to be like sheep among wolves. They will be universally hated for being his disciples. It means there will be sufferings, rejection, humiliation and persecution. Jesus counsels them to be prudent but   daring so as to accept the cross in imitation of him, their Master so that dying with him they may rise with him to a glorious life in heaven. You and I are called to do the same and thus prove our love for the Lord Jesus who is our Master. And he has assured us of his powerful presence with us till we reach the place he has prepared for us. Do we really imitate Jesus our Master and Lord?

Activity:

Write down three events in the past week or month, where you had to suffer for following Chrisitan principles.  Thank God for the courage.