As disciples, we are called to a radical way of life

12th Sunday of the Year (A)

By Msgr. John N. Fell

In the first reading this Sunday, the prophet Jeremiah displays an attitude of confident trust in God; Jeremiah proclaims, “the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion . . . praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!” (Jer. 20:1113). It is this kind of profound trust, the trust that led Jeremiah continue his service as God’s messenger despite terrible opposition, that Jesus is trying to inspire in his disciples in this Sunday’s excerpt from the Gospel of St. Matthew.

The tenth chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel is known as his Mission or Discipleship Discourse, a section in which Jesus speaks of the need for co-workers, chooses the twelve apostles, and then proceeds to expound upon the requirements, trials, and triumphs of faithful discipleship. Perhaps more than the other Synoptics or John, Matthew emphasizes the perfection required for those who would be Jesus’ disciples; their righteousness must always far exceed that of those around them. In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus seems to be making three important points about being such faithful disciples.

First, Jesus encourages the apostles to witness to him and his Heavenly Father without fear. He reminds them of the inevitability of the coming fullness of the Kingdom of God. In doing so, Jesus distinguishes between his own mission, which is to proclaim the Kingdom to them, and their mission, which is to proclaim the Kingdom to all the ends of the world. What Jesus tells them now in the dark, that is, in this secluded corner of the Ancient Near East, they are to announce in the light throughout the entire world. What Jesus speaks privately to this tight, little band, they must publicly proclaim from the rooftops. It will be through their courage and fidelity that Jesus’ message will reach the whole world.

Second, Jesus comforts them with the assurance that he and his Father will take care of them at every moment of their endeavors. True disciples are called to a radical way of life, a way of life that the world will not readily accept. Jesus knows well the opposition that these witnesses of his will face on his account, and he promises them that he will always look out for them. He tells them not to fear the reaction of the crowd when they preach, they should fear rather the reaction of God if they do not preach: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna” (Matthew 10:28). In true rabbinic style, Jesus reasons with them that if the Father sustains and nurtures every individual sparrow (the cheapest of animals), then how much more care will he provide for those who faithfully carry forth his mission. They and their efforts will forever be before the Father’s gaze.

Third, Jesus reminds his disciples that both his mission as well as their salvation are at stake. Here Jesus emphasizes the very personal nature of what they are called to do. Being a disciple in not a matter of promoting a certain cause or idea, being a disciple is matter of remaining tied to and focused upon Jesus – the person of Jesus is the heart and center of their message. If they disown Jesus, that is, if they fail to be his witnesses in the world, their weakness will have dire consequences on the spread of his gospel. Jesus will then disown them before his Heavenly Father, leaving them unrecognized and unwelcome in the Kingdom. If, however, they remain faithful and true to the task of proclaiming his Gospel to all the nations, Jesus will acknowledge them before his Heavenly Father and bring them to the full glory of the Kingdom. The costs of faithful discipleship, although significant, will always pale in comparison to the rich rewards that it merits.

Msgr. Fell is a Scripture scholar and director, diocesan Office for Priest Personnel

Prayer for newly ordained priests

O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear our humble prayers on behalf of your priests. Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of their priestly lives. In their loneliness, comfort them; in their sorrows, strengthen them; in their frustrations, point out to them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified. Show them that they are needed by the Church, they are needed by souls, they are needed for the work of redemption.

O loving Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordinations, and because of the power which they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them so much. Be their comfort, be their joy, be their strength, and especially help them to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. Amen.

Crosiers

Apostles Peter & Paul

c. first century

June 29

These apostles share a feast as founders of the church in Rome. Peter, a Galilean fisherman chosen by Christ as one of the Twelve Apostles, became the undisputed leader of the fledgling church after Pentecost. Paul, a Pharisee and Roman citizen who had persecuted Christians, became after his dramatic conversion the church’s greatest missionary, its “apostle of the gentiles.” By tradition both were martyred in Rome. Their adventures are recounted in the Acts of the Apostles, and letters from them are included in the New Testament.

Saints

SCRIPTURE SEARCH®

Gospel for June 25, 2023

Matthew 10: 26-33

Following is a word search based on the Gospel reading for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A: A promise that all things are seen. The words can be found in all directions in the puzzle.

SECRET WHAT I SAY DARK THE LIGHT WHISPERED BODY SOUL DESTROY BOTH SPARROWS SOLD NOT ONE THE HAIRS YOUR HEAD COUNTED AFRAID EVERYONE BEFORE ACKNOWLEDGE FATHER DENY