The liturgy of the 12th Sunday in OT continues from the previous Sunday's theme of the mission to evangelize. All the baptized share in the apostolic mission to "Go forth" and proclaim the nearness of God's kingdom. But they are sent to a world that will be in opposition to them. The attitude of the disciples should be that of trust and confidence in their Father in heaven. Read the article here and use the following for your guide.
1. The whole of Matthew 10:26-33 is about the disciple in the face of opposition. Three times during this passage, the command "Do not fear" is uttered.
Reflect. Jesus' message is for those who are actively engaged in evangelization and the opposition they meet. In your own work, what kind of oppossition have you met and consolation do you receive from these words of the gospel?
2. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we find this paragraph
The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: "All however must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks."(82) Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: "So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."(83) (1997 Catechism of the Catholic Church 1816)
Reflect. Which are the different ways in which you have been made to profess your belief in the Lord publicly? (This profession involves taking sides in issues where Catholic faith and morals is at stake.)
3. Cerezo has an illustration of the gospel passage under discussion: Look at the picture and see which of the verses in the gospel selection under consideration is depicted.
