December 26, 2024

Matthew 10:17-22

In this reading, Jesus foresees the early centuries of the persecution of Christians, and how his followers will suffer. The authorities will hand them over to be brought before kings and governors – that is how threatening to the established order the true message of Jesus is.  His followers will be scourged and even put to death.  Yet having heard the truth, they are not able to deny it.  Foreseeing this suffering caused Jesus’ heart great pain, and he is relieved that recent centuries have been far easier, although not without their trials.  Still, martyrdom is much less common, thank heaven.  While we modern people may feel it is a lot of effort to get up and go to church on a chilly, rainy day and sit in the pew for an hour or so, think what the early Christians had to go through – to meet two or three together in a hidden place, in a catacomb, to share bread and wine secretly, to risk their lives to receive communion.

Jesus teaches the disciples here how to rely on the Holy Spirit to speak through them, not with their own thoughts and words, but the words of the Holy Spirit when they are brought before the authorities.  In the same way now today, we can let the Holy Spirit work through us, not always knowing where the path leads, but trusting that God has provided for us and even brought us great blessings more than we could have hoped for in our lives.

With uncertainty about climate change, conflict, and authoritarian governments, let Spirit speak through us and bring the message of peace.  Let us seek the stillness of peace in our contemplative prayer, in company with Jesus and the celestial angels.  Let us breath this stillness and reside there.  Offer these messages of stillness and peace to all who you meet. That is all.