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Heralds of the Gospel
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.” Matthew 10:16–18
No one is naturally drawn to persecution. We flee from it. We are
made for communion with one another. In Heaven, and in the New
Heavens and New Earth at the end of time, our eternal experience
will be of peace, unity, and solidarity with all as we jointly gaze
upon and adore the Beatific Vision of the King of the
Universe.
Today, however, the kingdom of darkness retains a great hold on
this fallen world. War, violence, injustice, and divisions of every
kind affect families, communities, and nations because hostility is
much easier to achieve than the peace and harmony that Christ seeks
to establish through the inauguration of His Kingdom.
One of the surest ways to avoid persecution is to stand for
nothing. Those who hold no moral convictions or remain silent about
the truths of the faith are unlikely to draw the world’s wrath. But
those who speak with clarity and charity about the eternal truths
of the Gospel often find themselves the object of rejection.
This was the reality for which Jesus was preparing the Twelve
Apostles. Today’s Gospel comes from a lengthy exhortation Jesus
delivered to His Twelve as He was sending them out two by two to
proclaim the arrival of the Kingdom of God. They were to go forth
with courage, rely on divine providence, perform miracles, and
prepare the various towns and villages to which they were sent for
Jesus’ coming.
At first, one might think that entering a Jewish town to share the
good news that the Messiah had arrived—and was soon coming to them
in person—would be met with much rejoicing. However, that’s not the
reality for which Jesus prepared them. He offers a striking image,
saying He is sending the Twelve “like sheep in the midst of
wolves.” This evokes both the innocence they were to embody and the
hostility they would inevitably face. As sheep, they were to act
with meekness, vulnerability, and complete dependence on the Good
Shepherd’s providence.
Today, as our Lord sends us forth to proclaim the Gospel within our
families, communities, and world, we should expect nothing other
than what the Twelve encountered. For example, those who uphold the
Church’s moral teachings publicly often provoke strong resistance.
Even proclaiming that salvation is found solely through Jesus
Christ can lead to hostility. The accusation is frequently made
that such beliefs are intolerant or judgmental, when in truth they
are rooted in love and fidelity to God’s revelation—and in genuine
concern for the good of every soul.
If we wish to continue Jesus’ mission of establishing His Kingdom,
we must be prepared for persecution by knowing how to respond to
it. Returning hatred for hatred or persecution for persecution is
not the Gospel. Instead, we must expect and anticipate hostility
when we become messengers of the Truth—and respond with
serpent-like shrewdness and dove-like simplicity. We must perceive
dangers, avoid traps, and navigate persecution without being naïve.
We must also embrace sincerity of heart, freedom from malice, and
unwavering peace.
Reflect today on whether you are willing to endure hardship for the
sake of Christ. Is your heart prepared to speak the truth in love
and to receive rejection with peace? Pray for the grace to imitate
the Apostles, who went forth not in fear but in trust. Resolve to
bring the light of the Gospel into a dark and hostile world with
shrewdness, simplicity, fidelity, courage, and meekness, knowing
that the Good Shepherd will guide and protect you always, when you
act in accord with His perfect will for the mission on which you
are sent.
Most glorious King, You came to establish Your Kingdom on earth
in preparation for the Eternal Kingdom to come. Please send me
forth to prepare the way for Your coming—into the hearts of my
family and friends, into the wider community, and into every place
where You call me to bear witness in the world. May I act with the
shrewdness of serpents and the gentleness of doves, with wisdom and
humility, as I seek to prepare the way for Your Kingdom of truth
and love. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: The Apostles by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
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