Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 10, 2020
Jesus said to his Apostles, “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
“Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles.
“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; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
“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.”
The Christian life is sometimes a study in contradictions. In today’s gospel passage we are advised to be as “wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.” This reminds me of the contradiction between Jesus’ warm invitation to be childlike in our faith and Paul’s measured and sober admonition: “When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things” (1Cor 13:11).
These contradictions are part of the fabric of our faith. For Jesus, there was a time to be kind, loving, and accepting and a time to turn over the money changers’ tables in the temple. To me, these contradictions are not an incoherent aspect of our faith but rather a reminder that the Christian life plays out in an arena that is not always hospitable to a faith that is based on love.
That is certainly what the disciples are hearing from Jesus today. Jesus doesn’t just warn them that they might be persecuted, he guarantees it. He prepares his disciples for the inevitable.
This passage makes me ask myself: what causes of justice am I avoiding because I prefer not to be uncomfortable in my life? Do I fear the comments I might receive from family and friends if I post something on social media about a contemporary issue that really resonates with my faith right now? I need to be childlike and grown-up, innocent and wise all at the same time. When that feels too difficult, I stay silent. But the disciples in today’s reading do not stay silent. They go to the difficult places that Jesus sends them, ready to preach the Gospel. I pray for the strength to do the same.
Prayer
God our strength, give us the courage to live our faith in a world of lies, betrayal, and hurt. Help us to seek your justice. Show your mercy and grant us your peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Amelia, or Amalberga, was a noblewoman who lived in Belgium in the eighth century. She and her brother were raised in a devout household and she wanted to give her life to God as a religious sister.
In her legend, her beauty is said to have caught the eye of the young man who would become King Charlemagne. He became obsessed with Amelia and asked for her hand in marriage. She had dedicated her virginity to God, and refused. He persisted, and one day, as she was praying at a church, he tried to pull her away and ended up breaking her arm.
In some stories, her arm healed almost instantly, and Charlemagne withdrew his request. In other stories, he withdrew his request, but became ill; Amelia forgave him and prayed for his healing and he recovered.
She died at the age of 31 and there are many miraculous stories attributed to her. In one account, she crossed a lake by riding on the back of a giant sturgeon fish. She is patron saint of those suffering from bruises and arm pain.
The relics of St. Amelia rest in the reliquary chapel, and she is shown in this stained glass window in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus.
St. Amelia, you are patron saint of people with broken arms—pray for us!