SHEEP AMONG WOLVES Todays Reading 11-July “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” – Matthew 10:16 The multitude got hooked with the phenomenal Twilight Saga. It is such a potent blend when romance is sandwiched in the choreography, conflicts and clashes of vampire clans, werewolves and humans. In the real world, emotional vampires exist. They suck dry all your patience, exhaust your care and every virtue that you have. With them, you feel like a “sheep among wolves.” Let’s compare the two vampires that we know. Twilight vampires are super quick in stalking their prey. Emotional vampires are super quick in invading your privacy. Twilight vampires have super powers in taking advantage of their enemies. Emotional vampires have super powers in taking advantage of you. Twilight vampires are closely knit as a family. Emotional vampires are closely knit to their selfish intent. Beware, people of God, vampires lurk around. Be shrewd and gentle amid wolves. The Shepherd of your souls is always there to make a way for you! Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail) Reflection: “It is the weak who are cruel; gentleness can only come from those who are strong.” (Leo Roskin) Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. (Psalm 23) St. Benedict, abbot, pray for us. Didache | Companion | Sabbath COMPANION 1ST READING Today is the feast of St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism. He began simply by living a life dedicated to prayer and the love of God. He ended up establishing a movement that is a powerhouse for prayer and study even today, 1,500 years later. It is amazing what the legacy of one man can turn out to be. I wonder what your and my legacy will be? Hosea 14:2-10 2 Thus says the Lord: Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. 3 Take with you words, and return to the Lord; say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. 4 Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; we shall say no more, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion.” 5 I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. 6 I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; he shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, 7 and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. 8 Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; they shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 9 Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree” — because of me you bear fruit! 10 Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the Lord, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them. P S A L M Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14, 17 R: My mouth will declare your praise. 1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 6 [8] Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart, and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom. 7 [9] Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R) GOSPEL It is not easy to persevere in discipleship. There will be trials and tribulations ahead of us. Jesus suffered unto death, so I suppose we cannot expect to avoid it altogether. However, what a difference it makes to know that Jesus has conquered sin and death. He has opened for us the way to make our suffering redemptive by surrendering it to His cross. Let us never waste suffering by complaining but embrace it in faith and turn it into good. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you to all truth and remind you of all I told you. Matthew 10:16-23 16 Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. 20 For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” think: Let us never waste suffering by complaining but embrace it in faith and turn it into good. Didache | Companion | Sabbath SABBATH MORE SUBTLE PERSECUTIONS Our continuous Gospel passages bring us now to Jesus’ instructions regarding the inevitable persecutions which His disciples were to undergo eventually. It is not only the martyrs who underwent persecutions. This last word certainly does not only refer to torments such as being nailed to the cross, being tortured and jailed, being scourged or burned at the stake, and similar ordeals. There are other more subtle and insidious persecutions. Ours is a society built by pride, materialism and maintenance of the status quo: all these spawn trials and difficulties to a genuine follower of Christ. And in a world built on free will instead of God’s will, we are being challenged to be martyrs in the broad sense (the original sense, in fact — that of giving witness). Our saint for today is a fine example. Benedict, known as the Patriarch of Western monks, didn’t die a martyr’s death. However, he had to face so many persecutions of different sorts: combatting temptations of the flesh, confronting conflicts from notorious monks, enduring assassination attempts and political intrigues, and overcoming his own selfish tendencies. As for ourselves, there isn’t much difference. While we may not be called to martyr our lives, we must “martyr” our way of life. We must put our selfish ways to death, and march to the beat of a different drummer. There may still be religious persecutions up to now against Christians in certain countries, but we must recognize the newer and more understated forms of persecutions and be ready to face them with the help of God. May St. Benedict be our inspiration, model and strength. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What persecutions have you encountered in following Jesus? How did you overcome them? Strengthen me, Lord, whenever I meet persecutions in following You. Help me not to give up as I fulfill Your mission for me.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 22:49:53 +0000
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