14th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Friday - Missionary Instructions

 

Chapter 10 of Matthew’s Gospel, from which our weekday Gospel readings have been taken the past few days, is often called Jesus’ “Mission Sermon”. He gave his Sermon on the Mount back on chapters 5 through 7, giving instruction about how to live a holy life, that attitudes and dispositions that we are to cultivate throughout our short time on earth. But in his Mission Sermon the Lord gives instruction about a particular task—the mission of spreading the Gospel.

It is the task of the Church, it is our task, to “make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all the Lord commands.” And for this task, the Lord, as we heard today, gives specific instructions.

First, he explains, he’s sending us like sheep amidst wolves”. The mission of the Gospel is a peaceful mission in a hostile world. Sheep possess no claws, fangs, or armor. The mission of the Gospel is not carried out through physical force. We are to carry out our mission entrusting ourselves to the protection and providence of the Good Shepherd.

Second, “be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves” Christians must not be naïve about the world. We must recognize deception, temptation, and hostility, and act with prudence. Yet our prudence must never become dishonesty or manipulation. We must remain innocent, sincere, and free from malice.

Thirdly, “do not worry about what you are to say”. Fear must not keep us from our missionary task. By all means, study the faith to the best of your ability. Study the Word of God so that it is so rooted in you, that you are able to converse about it, to stranger and kings.

Fourth, Jesus warns that the Gospel may cause division even within families. When one person embraces the faith and another rejects it, painful conflict may result. Nevertheless, we are called to give good Christian example through patience, prayer, and charity to all who disagree with the Church, including our family members.

Finally, Jesus teaches that the persecution of the Church will continue until his return. Christians should not be surprised when the Gospel is mocked, opposed, or punished. Such opposition does not mean the mission has failed. It places us in communion with Christ himself and with the martyrs who faithfully endured before us.

The Lord does not promise that the mission will be easy. But, He promises that his Spirit will remain with us and that those who persevere to the end will be saved.

May we take the Lord’s instruction to heart—may it shape our days—for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Let us offer our prayers to God, who sends his Church to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.

For the Church throughout the world: that she may proclaim the truth of Christ with courage, humility, and unwavering charity, let us pray to the Lord.

For Christians who are persecuted because of their faith: that the Holy Spirit may strengthen them, give them the words they need, and preserve them in fidelity to Christ, let us pray to the Lord.

For families divided by religious belief or practice: that patience, prayer, and loving witness may bring them unity in the truth, let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community: that we may embrace our missionary responsibility and make Christ known through lives of holiness, prudence, sacrifice, and love, let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the suffering, and all who feel abandoned: that they may experience the protection and consolation of Christ the Good Shepherd, let us pray to the Lord.

For the faithful departed: that, having persevered in faith, they may be welcomed into the joy of God’s eternal kingdom, let us pray to the Lord.

Almighty Father, you call us to proclaim your Son in a world that often resists his truth. Strengthen us by your Spirit, preserve us in faith, and grant what we ask according to your holy will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

14th Week in OT 2020 - Tuesday - Casting-out spirit of muteness

There are about twenty miracles in Matthew’s Gospel, most of them are healing miracles, though Matthew, like the other evangelists records miracles such as the feeding of the five thousand, the calming of the storm, and walking on water.

Of the healing miracles, there is subset of healings which are coupled with exorcisms—the casting out of demons which was either the cause of the physical malady or at least connected to the debilitation.  In today’s Gospel, a demon possessed man who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was cast out the man was then able to speak.

Whenever we are attached to evil, or evil is attached to us, we are always less than we should be. Evil debilitates us. It keeps us from seeing as we should, hearing as we should, speaking as we should, walking as we should. It keeps us from understanding as we should, listening as we should, proclaiming good news as we should, and building the kingdom as we should.

These miracle stories are meant to teach us how the Lord wishes to restore what was corrupted through sin and put it into service of the Gospel.

The healing of muteness is particularly important. We are made in the image of God who speaks creation into existence, the second person of the Trinity is the Word who becomes flesh to save us. And attachments to evil and fear which keep us from speaking rightly mars the image of God in us.
But by healing muteness, casting out the evil which keeps us from proclaiming truth, speaking righteously, we are restored to be the people we were made to be. Through grace, we are freed from the evil attachments which keep us from developing well-trained tongues.

All of us are tongue-tied in some way. Perhaps we refrain from speaking truth to a loved one who is making all the wrong choices because we fear being rejected by them. Or maybe we hesitate sharing our faith with non-believers because we fear being judged by them in some way.  Yes, speaking truth will always have some consequence, some possibility of condemnation. But we were not made to be afraid of speaking truth, or so attached to evil habits that we never learn our faith enough to share it.

Rather, the journey of faith must involve allowing the Lord to loosen our tongues for the spread of the Gospel. So we do well to identify any spiritually unhealthy or unhelpful habits which keep us from learning our faith, or any fears that we have not handed over to the Lord which keep us from speaking what is true, good, and effective for the building up of the kingdom for the Glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Holy Spirit may guide the selection of a new bishop for the diocese of Cleveland, that he may be a man of courage, competency, and conviction for the Gospel.

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, for victims of abuse, especially children, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord