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From: Matthew 10:16-23

Jesus’ Instructions to the Apostles


(Jesus said to His disciples,) [16] “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst
of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. [17] Beware of men; for
they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, [18] and you
will be dragged before governors and kings for My sake, to bear testimony before
them and the Gentiles. [19] When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you
are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you
in that hour; [20] for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father spea-
king through you. [21] Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his
child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; [22] and
you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will
be saved. [23] When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I
say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son
of Man comes.”

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

16-23. The instructions and warnings Jesus gives here apply right through the his-
tory of the Church. It is difficult for the world to understand the way of God. Some-
times there will be persecutions, sometimes indifference to the Gospel or failure
to understand. Genuine commitment to Jesus always involves effort — which is
not surprising, because Jesus Himself was a sign of contradiction; indeed, if that
were not the experience of a Christian, he would have to ask himself whether he
was not in fact a worldly person. There are certain worldly things a Christian can-
not compromise about, no matter how much they are in fashion. Therefore, Chris-
tian life inevitably involves nonconformity with anything that goes against faith and
morals (cf. Romans 12:2). It is not surprising that a Christian’s life often involves
choosing between heroism and treachery. Difficulties of this sort should not make
us afraid: we are not alone, we can count on the powerful help of our Father God
to give us strength and daring.

20. Here Jesus teaches the completely supernatural character of the witness
He asks His disciples to bear. The documented accounts of a host of Christian
martyrs prove that He has kept this promise: they bear eloquent witness to the
serenity and wisdom of often uneducated people, some of them scarcely more
than children.

The teaching contained in this verse provides the basis for the fortitude and con-
fidence a Christian should have whenever he has to profess his faith in difficult
situations. He will not be alone, for the Holy Spirit will give him words of divine
wisdom.

23. In interpreting this text, the first thing is to reject the view of certain rationa-
lists who argue that Jesus was convinced that soon He would come in glory and
the world would come to an end. That interpretation is clearly at odds with many
passages of the Gospel and the New Testament. Clearly, Jesus refers to Him-
self when He speaks of the “Son of Man”, whose glory will be manifested in this
way. The most cogent interpretation is that Jesus is referring here, primarily, to
the historical event of the first Jewish war against Rome, which ended with the
destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple in the year 70, and which led to the
scattering of the Jewish people. But this event, which would occur a few years
after Jesus’ death, is an image or a prophetic symbol of the end of the world (cf.
note on Matthew 24:1).

The coming of Christ in glory will happen at a time which God has not revealed.
Uncertainty about the end of the world helps Christians and the Church to be
ever-vigilant.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.


5 posted on 07/12/2018 9:50:11 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green.


First reading Hosea 14:2-10 ©
A call to conversion and promise of safety
The Lord says this:
Israel, come back to the Lord your God;
your iniquity was the cause of your downfall.
Provide yourself with words
and come back to the Lord.
Say to him, ‘Take all iniquity away
so that we may have happiness again
and offer you our words of praise.
Assyria cannot save us,
we will not ride horses any more,
or say, “Our God!” to what our own hands have made,
for you are the one in whom orphans find compassion.’
– I will heal their disloyalty,
I will love them with all my heart,
for my anger has turned from them.
I will fall like dew on Israel.
He shall bloom like the lily,
and thrust out roots like the poplar,
his shoots will spread far;
he will have the beauty of the olive
and the fragrance of Lebanon.
They will come back to live in my shade;
they will grow corn that flourishes,
they will cultivate vines
as renowned as the wine of Helbon.
What has Ephraim to do with idols any more
when it is I who hear his prayer and care for him?
I am like a cypress ever green,
all your fruitfulness comes from me.
Let the wise man understand these words.
Let the intelligent man grasp their meaning.
For the ways of the Lord are straight,
and virtuous men walk in them,
but sinners stumble.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 50(51):3-4,8-9,12-14,17 ©
My mouth shall declare your praise.
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
  In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
  and cleanse me from my sin.
My mouth shall declare your praise.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
  then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
  O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
My mouth shall declare your praise.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
  put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
  nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
My mouth shall declare your praise.
Give me again the joy of your help;
  with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
O Lord, open my lips
  and my mouth shall declare your praise.
My mouth shall declare your praise.

Gospel Acclamation 1P1:25
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of the Lord remains for ever:
What is this word?
It is the Good News that has been brought to you.
Alleluia!
Or: Jn16:13,14:26
Alleluia, alleluia!
When the Spirit of truth comes
he will lead you to the complete truth,
and he will remind you of all I have said to you.
Alleluia!

Gospel
Matthew 10:16-23 ©
The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.
  ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. I tell you solemnly, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’

6 posted on 07/12/2018 10:13:24 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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