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Why go through so much grief, facing opposition, oppression and persecution? All in the name of Jesus, our faith? Isn’t the real question though, can we live a lie? Rather a life of lies? So what is the truth then?

The Truth has come to set us free. From sin, inner turmoil, anxieties, depression, fear, loneliness even death. The Truth has come to prepare us for eternal life with our ever loving Father. Jesus brings new life, new hope, Peace and Love.

The Holy Spirit teaches and guides in all truth and armed we can withstand and defend against the blows of the often cruel, sharp even loose tongues.

Do we then go seeking out all those who would challenge our faith? Seeking Martyrdom? NO… Martyrdom if it ever comes to that, should be a result of our love, of our faith in Christ; not a cause. Let us be wise as serpents, faultless and harmless as doves. Amen

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 of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and Spirit 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.”

Why do some of us cringe in fear when we hear the word evangelisation? Or feel that it is beyond us to share let alone preach our faith? How is it then when we receive a windfall, gift or fantastic news we cannot wait to share it with our family and friends? Sometimes the happiness is so great we might even share it with strangers? What greater gift is there than our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ? What greater love and peace can we ever hope to have than what we have in Him? How then can we not want to burst at the seams to share Him with others?

When we have a project or a mission, do we not worry if we have enough in the budget set aside to complete it? The means and the expertise to carry it out? Our Lord Jesus is sending all of us out on a mission to share the Good News with others.  What do you think the budget for this mission is? Do you think He will send us out unprepared? With zero gifts and talents? Why do we even need or ever have a need to worry? With God with us, who can be against us?

In our mission, we are to bring the peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ with us. Do we need to be fearful of rejection? Who are they truly rejecting when they reject us?

Clothed then with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see Him who has called us to His kingdom. (Rule of Saint Benedict)

GOSPEL
Matthew 10:7–15

7 And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. 9 Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, salute it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.