Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.”

 

Gospel Reading: 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."

 

Have you ever felt that when you are around your friends that you needed to defend your faith or that you are attacked because of your faith or are told that you’re not really Christian. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us that we are sent out as “sheep in the midst of wolves.” The gospel reading tells us that we will encounter opposition to our faith: “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.” We must stand strong in our faith and be the example of what it means to be a member of the one true universal church. Be proud to be a Catholic, but do not let the pride become boastful. It is through your example that others will learn what it means to be a member of the one catholic and apostolic church. When you are put on trial by others, God tells us, “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.” Every week when you go to mass and receive the Eucharist, you receive the energy you need to defend the church and to defend your faith. You become a living tabernacle of Christ and a symbol of the love that was poured out for us on the cross. There are many false churches out there that are not true to the teachings of Christ, some even promise earthly riches, and others contend that a simple statement of belief is all you need to be “saved”. The commitment to Christ is much more significant than that. It is a journey with many trials and we are not the judge or the jury in these trials. Only God can judge our actions. We will fail in some of these trials, but our faith is what gives us the strength to get back up and return to the path. Be strong my young lambs for you are among wolves, wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. But God gives us hope. If we endure and have patience to conquer these trials, we will be saved in the end.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, I am a sheep among wolves.

Give me the wisdom and knowledge to defend my faith.

Allow me to be a beacon of hope for others.

Give me the strength to accept the persecution of others.

Give me the courage to do your will.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon