7/15/2023 (Saturday) Today’s gospel reading: Matthew 10:24-33

Jesus said to his Apostles:
24 “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
26 “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.
27 What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
28 And 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.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.
30 Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
33 But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

7/15/2023 (Saturday) Today’s gospel reflection: Matthew 10:24-33

We are God’s children. We belong to Him and that makes us important. If He takes care of sparrows which can be sold for a penny, how much more are His children? And if God is for us then who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). That is why, the gospel tells us three times not to be afraid!

Do not be afraid to be called Beelzebul for the sake of gospel; People already called Jesus as such.
Do not be afraid of darkness; Jesus is the light.
Do not be afraid to die for the sake of the gospel; There is resurrection.
Therefore, let us not be afraid to acknowledge Jesus before others; He will acknowledge us in heaven.

It is God’s will that we live like Jesus, His son and our teacher and master. Yet the previous reading also tells that if we live like Jesus and obey His command to go out and be His witnesses, we will experience rejections, mockery, and persecutions. Jesus is indeed transparent. He lays all possibilities on the table. Nothing is secret. Nothing is hidden. Take it or leave it but let us remember, to live like Jesus does not only mean to take our daily cross but also to be raised up just like Him.

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