Matthew 10,27-33.
In Ch 10 of Matthew’s gospel, we find the second of Jesus’ five great sermons in this gospel. In it Jesus combines the call and commissioning of the twelve, which are separate events in Mark. Ch 10,2 is the only place where Matthew calls Jesus’ followers, apostles; elsewhere, preferring the title disciples – learners. This sermon can be divided into two main parts: (1) 10,5-23 – their mission to Israel; (2) as disciples they represent the Lord.
This Sunday’s excerpt begins with Jesus’ advice to his disciples: “Do not be afraid;” advice given three time in this short passage.
They are not to be afraid. What Jesus has taught them privately, or undercover, or away from the glare of publicity, is now to be proclaimed openly, fearlessly and forthrightly by them. The privacy of Jesus’s teaching methods is appropriate for disciples who are listeners and learners. Once they have listened and learned as disciples, they are commissioned to become apostles, to go out and proclaim the good news of Jesus to others.
They are not to be afraid of opposition, or even death. Something to be feared far more than physical death is the spiritual death which would result from the betrayal of the Lord through cowardice or self- interest. God, who provides for the sparrows, and notes their death, and who has counted every hair on the disciples’ heads, will most certainly reward them, who are immeasurably more valuable than a sparrow, if they are true to Him and His values.
Those disciples being sent out to preach and witness to the good news, that in Jesus, the promised Messiah, has come, will be acknowledged by him before his heavenly Father. If they were to deny him or disobey his commands, out of ear or cowardice, he will disown them before his Father in heaven.
Opposition, rejection, persecution, and death were the lot of Jesus himself. His disciples would have been well aware of the saying of Jesus “if they persecute me, they will persecute you too.” (Jn 15,10)
At the time of Matthew’s writing his gospel, he would have been well aware of the relevance of this text for Christians who were being persecuted for their belief in Jesus. “You will be hated on account of my name.” (Mt 10,22). History has shown that the blood of martyrs is the seed of faith.
The three times in today’s gospel where Jesus tells his disciples not to be afraid, correspond to the three sources of opposition the word of God is likely to meet today, as well.
The first source is from within ourselves, through cowardice, self-interest, the cost of commitment, a lack of faith in God, fear of what others may think. Can you think of other reasons why we might put our own interests before God’s?
Others reject the gospel because it challenges their values, their consciences, or seems to limit their freedom.
The spirit of evil in his many guises is the ultimate opponent of the gospel.
“Every hair on your head has been counted. You are worth more than many sparrows.” Do you let these truths influence your life, your self-image, what you do?
We are all precious in God’s eyes. Can you recall times in your life when you felt God’s love and care for you?
How do you show your trust in the Lord, in your life, your home, your work?
Fr Geoff O’Grady