For example, the first part of Matthew’s Gospel contains the narrative of Jesus’ baptism, and going out into the desert to fast and to face the devil, and coming out of the desert to perform healing miracles in Capernaum. He then gives his most famous discourse: the Lord Jesus a mountain, and gives his famous sermon, his sermon on the mount, the new Law for his followers, like Moses having ascending Mt. Sinai, to receive and then deliver the Commandments of the Law to Israel.
Today’s passage is from the second major part of Matthew’s Gospel, the second discourse. In this discourse Jesus has been giving instructions to the Apostles. He instructs them to go throughout Galilee, to heal, to cast out demons, as he has been doing. The Apostles are tasked with proclaiming the Gospel and showing it’s authenticity through signs. But then Jesus gives a warning, that warning, we hear today: he is sending them out as sheep amidst the wolves. There will be wolves who will persecute them, who will silence them, who will even seek to kill them because of the Gospel.
That’s a divine promise that we see come to pass in the Acts of the Apostles and in every age of the Church: the Church is hated, the Church is persecuted, the Church is silenced by those whose hearts are still hardened to the message of Jesus. Parma, the Diocese of Cleveland, the United States is wolf-infested territory.
So Jesus instructs the Apostles and instructs us: “be shrewd, be cunning as serpents, and simple, innocent, gentle as doves” Most of us are one or the other. We are either very cunning, or very innocent. One theologian said, “Without innocence, cunning becomes manipulative; without cunning, innocence becomes naivety…the finely balanced character…reflects that of Jesus himself”. After all, Jesus was cunning in dealing with the Pharisees, in forming his disciples, but also innocent, of all malice, of all sin.
To become cunning as serpents, we train our minds in the Word of God, in the writings and examples of the saints, and be shrewd in dealing with those who oppose the Gospel, who don’t always work for the good of the Church.
To become innocent as doves, we train our hearts to trust God in all things, to hate sin, to love our neighbor with abundant generosity, peacemaking, and gentleness, and to not be hardened when we face difficulty or persecution. May we imitate the Lord’s own cunning and innocence for the spread of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That all bishops and clergy will lead the Church in faithfulness to the Gospel mandate and in the practice of every Christian virtue.
For all those who have fallen away from the Church, those who have fallen into serious sin, for their conversion, and the conversion of all hearts.
For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of July: That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, for all those recovering from or undergoing surgery today, and for the consolation of the dying.
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
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