My Sisters and Brothers:
Jesus told his Apostles they would be “sent out like sheep in the midst of wolves” (see Matthew 10:16a). He spoke these words just prior to those proclaimed in today’s Gospel in which he offers them a most confident admonition to “fear no one!” (see Matthew 10:26). For us, and with these words in mind, it’s no coincidence our first reading today includes the following words from the Prophet Jeremiah: “Terror on every side, but the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion, and so my persecutors will not triumph, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!” (cf. Jeremiah 20:10-13). Jesus’ words, as well as those of Jeremiah, invite us therefore to consider the absolute power God always has over any force of evil, or negative power, we might have to face in our lives. And so we’re told to believe harmful adversaries ultimately will not triumph! But I suppose, if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s also true this isn’t always easy to believe!
I can think of a few people, some situations close to home, social and political problems in our country, and even quite a number of global affairs that sometimes cause me to have fear! It seems to me there are indeed lots of “wolves” out there! All we have to do these days is to listen to what our friends and family members are saying, to turn on the television, to open a newspaper, or to click onto any number of social media sites, and we will hear, read, and see, many things to confirm the reality of those “roaming wolves.” And it can be very frightening!
But I believe there’s lots of hope! In spite of the warnings about “wolves” and other such evils out there, the Scriptures actually offer us the confidence we need today in order not to live in fear. They tell us not to be afraid of those whose only power is over material things. In fact, Jesus tells us in the Gospel that such people can “kill the body but not the soul” (see Matthew 10:26-33). And for the same reason, Jeremiah was able to use comforting words comparing the Lord to a “mighty champion.”
And so I believe then our Scriptural messages today are quite to the point. It is exactly because we are spiritual people that we must recognize the great dignity of our eternal life with God. For this reason, we ought not to worry too much about the immediate problems of this life. For sure there will be those who will try to take advantage of us and cause us harm, and therefore as “righteous people” we are definitely called to join in struggles and causes that champion justice, equality and freedom. In fact, I believe this is exactly what Jesus commissioned his disciples to do as he “sent them out like sheep in the midst of wolves.” But at the same time I believe we’re admonished not to allow ourselves to be overcome by the negative forces we will certainly have to confront. This is certainly what Jesus meant when he told the Apostles to “fear no one.” And so Jesus assures us that even if today we suffer at the hands of the unjust while engaging in struggles against them, we will never lose our dignity as children of God!
And so my friends, let’s be confident and unafraid. Even though it’s sometimes difficult to believe our harmful adversaries ultimately will not triumph, surely they will not! Let’s rejoice because we have a loving Father in heaven, “a mighty champion,” who will help us with the struggles of this life, one who will see us through to victory, and who promises us a wonderful and joyful life with him forever! Let’s encourage each other with this message!
Jesus told his Apostles they would be “sent out like sheep in the midst of wolves” (see Matthew 10:16a). He spoke these words just prior to those proclaimed in today’s Gospel in which he offers them a most confident admonition to “fear no one!” (see Matthew 10:26). For us, and with these words in mind, it’s no coincidence our first reading today includes the following words from the Prophet Jeremiah: “Terror on every side, but the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion, and so my persecutors will not triumph, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!” (cf. Jeremiah 20:10-13). Jesus’ words, as well as those of Jeremiah, invite us therefore to consider the absolute power God always has over any force of evil, or negative power, we might have to face in our lives. And so we’re told to believe harmful adversaries ultimately will not triumph! But I suppose, if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s also true this isn’t always easy to believe!
I can think of a few people, some situations close to home, social and political problems in our country, and even quite a number of global affairs that sometimes cause me to have fear! It seems to me there are indeed lots of “wolves” out there! All we have to do these days is to listen to what our friends and family members are saying, to turn on the television, to open a newspaper, or to click onto any number of social media sites, and we will hear, read, and see, many things to confirm the reality of those “roaming wolves.” And it can be very frightening!
But I believe there’s lots of hope! In spite of the warnings about “wolves” and other such evils out there, the Scriptures actually offer us the confidence we need today in order not to live in fear. They tell us not to be afraid of those whose only power is over material things. In fact, Jesus tells us in the Gospel that such people can “kill the body but not the soul” (see Matthew 10:26-33). And for the same reason, Jeremiah was able to use comforting words comparing the Lord to a “mighty champion.”
And so I believe then our Scriptural messages today are quite to the point. It is exactly because we are spiritual people that we must recognize the great dignity of our eternal life with God. For this reason, we ought not to worry too much about the immediate problems of this life. For sure there will be those who will try to take advantage of us and cause us harm, and therefore as “righteous people” we are definitely called to join in struggles and causes that champion justice, equality and freedom. In fact, I believe this is exactly what Jesus commissioned his disciples to do as he “sent them out like sheep in the midst of wolves.” But at the same time I believe we’re admonished not to allow ourselves to be overcome by the negative forces we will certainly have to confront. This is certainly what Jesus meant when he told the Apostles to “fear no one.” And so Jesus assures us that even if today we suffer at the hands of the unjust while engaging in struggles against them, we will never lose our dignity as children of God!
And so my friends, let’s be confident and unafraid. Even though it’s sometimes difficult to believe our harmful adversaries ultimately will not triumph, surely they will not! Let’s rejoice because we have a loving Father in heaven, “a mighty champion,” who will help us with the struggles of this life, one who will see us through to victory, and who promises us a wonderful and joyful life with him forever! Let’s encourage each other with this message!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
Find me on Facebook by clicking on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/frayteo
