Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23)
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
1 Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. [9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19 When 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; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When 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.]
Lambs among Wolves
This Sunday we are invited to think about our own concept of belonging to the Church, that was founded by Christ the Lord, and His mission in today's world.
Isaiah 11:6 prophesies about enemies living together peacefully when hard hearts change. "The wolf will live with the lamb..." Jesus is telling us that wolves will remain with us and we have to live with the full knowledge of their presence and of the dangers that they represent.
Faith in Jesus and in His church includes hard times, difficult experiences, and a real fight against evil. Jesus expects that His faithful will be equipped with wisdom and meekness. They will have wisdom to read the various dangers, temptations and hostilities that they may meet. They will also know how to respond with a Christian spirit, without hatred or revenge, but with a real witness of Jesus' presence in their hearts and actions.
The faithful have to know how to gather awareness and vigilance, but also goodness and integrity. Savage wolves are around and would always like to devour the lambs. Combined wisdom, kindness and integrity can influence the wolves' hearts and turn them away from evil deeds so that they may receive forgiveness and new life.
"As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from their ways and live" Ezekiel 33:11. The lamb becomes a witness for reconciliation of the evildoers with themselves, with God and with their neighbor.
How do we respond to Jesus' teaching and witness for our faith in the event of hostility or aggression? Are you a lamb who knows how and when to combine wisdom and kindness into one? May we remember that the Lord tells us that our faith does not prevent us from facing wolves, but teaches us how to both act and react when we face them.