PRI Reflections on Scripture | Friday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time

Original Post Date: July 12, 2024 === Gospel 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.” Reflection Jesus told his disciples to be selfless, but now he tells them to be shrewd as serpents and beware of human beings, because they will try to destroy this message, and in the process destroy the messenger. There will be division and discord, and don't take that on as your fault, but know that this kind of work will continue until the end. You will never be finished. All you need to do is be determined, steadfast, and believe in what you're doing. Closing Prayer Father, give us patience. Give us understanding of what we are doing when we call people into your kingdom. And let us not be always thinking about success and everyone changing because it's never going to be finished. It's clear we'll be doing this until the time you come again to establish your kingdom. And we ask this in Jesu’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices