Word to the Wise
Friday, July 11, 2008 - St. Benedict, abbot
[Hosea 14:2-10 and Matthew 10:16-23]Behold I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
Some years ago, there was a TV thriller series called MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. The hero would be directed to a phone booth or other improbable site to find a tape recording of a proposed "mission." The tape recording would destroy itself after the hero listened to it. I remember one little phrase from each record, "Your mission, should you choose to accept it...."! Needless to say, the hero would accept the impossible mission and get it done. Jesus' instructions to his disciples could make one think twice before undertaking the task of discipleship! Scripture scholars tell us that these warnings mix the past, present and future. Jesus himself would undergo many of the hardships described in the discourse. Furthermore, the first readers would be experiencing those same hardships when they read the gospel. Last, but not least, those words would be an instruction "manual" to those who would accept the mission. There is encouragement as well as warning. God will give the message and supply the words if necessary! But the warnings are serious: family division, betrayal, persecution! However, despite these warnings (and fortunately for us) many accepted the "mission" which turns out to be very POSSIBLE! We are offered the same mission. We may think it impossible for ourselves. Is God's promise insufficient for our lack of courage? The early preachers were not figures on a holy card when they accepted the mission. They were simply people of faith. So are we. AMEN
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