GOSPEL POWER l JULY 8, 2022 - FRIDAY

14th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mt 10:16-23 

Jesus said to the Twelve, 16“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” T he message of the heavenly Kingdom is a world-changing message. But the ones who are reaping the benefits from the present world-order will resist anything that poses a threat to the status quo. To silence the disturbing Kingdom-message, they will try to get rid of the messengers. This is the risk that Jesus openly speaks about in today’s Gospel. His destiny as a sign of contradiction (cf. Lk 2:34) will also be the destiny of the believers who bear his name and are associated with his mission. But the risk is at the same time an opportunity to experience providence and power. For the Spirit that empowers Jesus, the same Holy Spirit that conceived and brought him forth into the world, will endow his missionaries with boldness and eloquence. Belonging to Christ is risky but infinitely rewarding.

 Lord Jesus, you risked everything to be one with us. Strengthen us to face the risks of belonging to you. Amen.