21 “A brother will betray his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. 22 Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever holds out till the end will be preserved from harm. 23 When you are persecuted in one town, run away to another. Yes indeed; I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Isra’el before the Son of Man comes.
14th Week in Ordinary Time
Do not worry about how you are to speak. (Matthew 10:19)
Sheep in the midst of wolves. Being handed over to the courts and punished in the synagogues. Being brought before governors and kings. Jesus told his disciples not to worry when they faced roadblocks like these. Nowadays, he might have cautioned against apathy, secularism, or relativism. Either way, confronting hostility or bias when we try to share our faith can make us anxious.
But don’t forget that it’s really Jesus’ life in you that people are rejecting, not you yourself. And he is totally equipped to handle any objection or opposition that may come your way!
Anxiety often comes from the feeling that we are inadequate in facing a challenge. We worry that we will make mistakes or that we won’t have what it takes to succeed. But Jesus wants us to put aside this kind of worry. Why? Because it’s not about us! The progress of the gospel doesn’t rise and fall on the strength of our personality, on the depth of our intellect, or on the extent of our oratorical skill. It’s not only about gritting our teeth and pushing through difficulties. It’s also about resting in God’s presence and trusting that his Spirit will help us overcome what we lack.
Are you afraid of evangelizing? Don’t be! Remember, it’s the Spirit who speaks through you and touches someone’s heart He so wants to share the good news of the gospel that he will overcome any obstacles to get just the right message to just the right person at just the right time. All he asks is that we try our best to recognize and use the opportunities to share the gospel that come our way.
No matter what, the situation is never about “us” and “them.” It’s about being ignited with God’s love and having the confidence that his Spirit can shine through you. With the heart of a true evangelist, eager to pass on the amazing gift you have received, you can witness to the gospel. Just open your mouth and speak, resting assured that the Spirit will take care of the obstacles.
“Jesus, you want everyone to receive the awesome gift of your redemption! Help me to put away worry so that this life of yours can flow out of me and touch the people you put in my path.” Amen!Genesis 46:1 Isra’el took everything he owned with him on his journey. He arrived at Be’er-Sheva and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Yitz’chak. 2 In a vision at night God called to Isra’el, “Ya‘akov! Ya‘akov!” He answered, “Here I am.” 3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down to Egypt. It is there that I will make you into a great nation. 4 Not only will I go down with you to Egypt; but I will also bring you back here again, after Yosef has closed your eyes.”
5 So Ya‘akov left Be’er-Sheva; the sons of Isra’el brought Ya‘akov their father, their little ones and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry them. 6 They took their cattle and their possessions which they had acquired in the land of Kena‘an and arrived in Egypt, Ya‘akov and all his descendants with him — 7 his sons, grandsons, daughters, granddaughters and all his descendants he brought with him into Egypt.
(vi) 28 Ya‘akov sent Y’hudah ahead of him to Yosef, so that the latter might guide him on the road to Goshen; thus they arrived in the land of Goshen. 29 Yosef prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet Isra’el his father. He presented himself to him, embraced him and wept on his neck for a long time. 30 Then Isra’el said to Yosef, “Now I can die, because I have seen your face and seen that you are still alive.”
Psalms 37:3 Trust in Adonai, and do good;
settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness.
4 Then you will delight yourself in Adonai,
and he will give you your heart’s desire.
18 Adonai knows what the wholehearted suffer,
but their inheritance lasts forever.
19 They will not be distressed when times are hard;
when famine comes, they will have plenty.
27 If you turn from evil and do good,
you will live safely forever.
28 For Adonai loves justice
and will not abandon his faithful;
they are preserved forever.
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
39 Adonai is the one who saves the righteous;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 Adonai helps them and rescues them,
rescues them from the wicked and saves them;
because they take refuge in him.
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