Do not worry
Published Jul 9, 2021 12:12 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Jacob learns the fate of his family — of his twelve sons — as they leave Canaan to
migrate to Egypt. There, they will become a great nation (Gn 46:3). But turning numerous will arouse fear in Pharaoh who will enslave them. Through Moses, however, God will rescue his people and bring them back to the land he promised to give to Abraham and his descendants.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns his Apostles about difficulties and dangers that await them in their mission. But he will not leave them without defense. They are sent to the world “like sheep in the midst of wolves” and so must be “shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” Simple but wise, for the mission is not an easy task. They will be asked to give witness before powerful rulers, and they will be persecuted. But when this thing happens, they have to let God lead them, for the Spirit of the Father will speak through them. What is necessary is complete simplicity and trust in the Lord. As the Lord assured Jacob that he would be with him in Egypt, so Jesus assures his Apostles of divine guidance and protection.
GOSPEL • MATTHEW 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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Jacob learns the fate of his family — of his twelve sons — as they leave Canaan to
migrate to Egypt. There, they will become a great nation (Gn 46:3). But turning numerous will arouse fear in Pharaoh who will enslave them. Through Moses, however, God will rescue his people and bring them back to the land he promised to give to Abraham and his descendants.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns his Apostles about difficulties and dangers that await them in their mission. But he will not leave them without defense. They are sent to the world “like sheep in the midst of wolves” and so must be “shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” Simple but wise, for the mission is not an easy task. They will be asked to give witness before powerful rulers, and they will be persecuted. But when this thing happens, they have to let God lead them, for the Spirit of the Father will speak through them. What is necessary is complete simplicity and trust in the Lord. As the Lord assured Jacob that he would be with him in Egypt, so Jesus assures his Apostles of divine guidance and protection.
GOSPEL • MATTHEW 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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.