GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 10:16-2316 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.
Meditation: What does Jesus mean when he says his
disciples must be sheep in the midst of wolves (Matthew 10:16)? The prophet Isaiah foretold a
time when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6 and 65:25). This Old Testament
prophecy certainly refers to the second coming of Christ when all
will be united under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put down
his enemies and established the reign of God over the heavens and
the earth (Ephesians 1:10 and Revelation 11:15). In the meantime,
the disciples must expect opposition and persecution from those
who oppose the Gospel and the coming of God's kingdom.
The readiness to serve and face hardship for Christ and his
kingdom
Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect
if they chose to follow him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This
is
my task for you at its grimmest and worst - do you accept it?
This is not the world's way of recruitment for service and toil
with promise of honor and reward. After the British defeat at
Dunkirk (June 1940), Churchill offered his country blood,
toil, sweat, and tears.
This is not the message we prefer to hear when the Lord Jesus
commissions us in his service for the advancement of God's kingdom
and the battle against Satan's kingdom of darkness and death.
Nonetheless, our privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the
Lord and Master who willingly laid down his life for us in order
to bring us victory over Satan, sin, and death. Are you willing to
accept hardship and suffering in serving the Lord Jesus Christ?
Lord Jesus, help me to patiently and joyfully accept the hardships, adversities, and persecution which come my way in serving you and your kingdom of love, truth,and goodness. Strengthen my faith and give me courage that I may not shrink back from doing your will.
Psalm 37:3-5,18-19,27-28,39-40
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.
4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide for ever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; so shall you abide for ever.
28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. The righteous shall be preserved for ever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The Spirit of your heavenly Father speaks through you in every age, by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)
"To be sure, we heard in that reading, 'But when they deliver you
up, do not be anxious how or what you are to speak... for it is
not you who are speaking but the Spirit of your Father who speaks
through you.' And he says in another place: 'Behold, I am with you
always, even to the end of the world' (Matthew
28:20). Does this mean that the people who heard those
words of the Lord would be here until the end of the world? The
Lord was referring, rather, not only to those about to depart from
this life but also to the others, including us and those who would
come after us in this life. He saw everyone in his single body,
and the words he spoke, 'I am with you even to the end of the
world,' were heard by them and by us too. And if we did not hear
them then in our knowledge, we heard them in his foreknowledge.
Therefore, safe as sheep among the wolves, let us keep the
commandments of him who directs us. And let us be 'innocent as
doves but cautious as snakes' (Matthew 10:16).
Innocent as doves that we may not harm anyone; cautious as snakes
that we may be careful of letting anyone harm us." (excerpt from the Sermon 44a.2)
