Word to the Wise
Saturday, July 10, 2021 - Saturday in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gen 49:29-32; 50:15-26a and Matt 10:24-33]"Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." [Matthew]
Chapter 10 of the Gospel According to Matthew is traditionally referred to as the "missionary discourse." The evangelist Matthew has put together various statements of Jesus to the disciples that bear on their going forth as missionaries - a kind of "pep talk" to send them off. The phrase, "Do not be afraid..." often occurs in contexts where God is present. Jesus uses the image of the sparrows to indicate God's providential care for the disciples
There are moments in the life of any active minister in the church when he or she is tempted to ask, "Does anyone care? Does God even care?" Disappointing results from hard work can lead to discouragement! I think I have mentioned before how I have observed small sparrows going about the business of being what they are without seeming to have a care in the world. A wise old Dominican missionary who worked in rural North Louisiana where Catholics were few once told me, "You are only going to do a limited amount of good. The important thing is to do that limited amount."
The task of preaching the gospel belongs to all the baptized, as Pope Francis has reminded us. We are all called to be "missionary disciples." Jesus' pep talk is aimed at us as well as at the original audience. The great Dominican preacher, Lacordaire, once said, "All I know of tomorrow is that Providence will rise before the sun." The committed disciple must realize that God is waiting to help when we wake up every day. AMEN