Tag: matthew10:16-23

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Quote/s of the Day – 9July – Sheep in the midst of wolves – .Matthew 10:16

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 9July – “Month of the Precious Blood” – Readings: Genesis 46: 1-7, 28-30; Psalms 37: 3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; Matthew 10:16-23

“Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves.
Be, therefore, wise as serpents
and simple as doves.”

Matthew 10:16

“But above all these things have charity,
which is the bond of perfection.”

Colossians 3:14

“What is the surest kind of witness?
“Anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ
came among us in the flesh” (cf. 1Jn 4,2)
and who keeps the commands of the Gospel…
How many there are each day
of these hidden martyrs of Christ
who confess the Lord Jesus!
… So be faithful and courageous
in interior persecutions
so that you may also win
the victory in exterior persecutions.”

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“When he has begun to follow me,
according to My teaching and precepts,
he will find many people contradicting him
and standing in his way,
many who not only deride but even persecute him.
Moreover, this is true,
not only of pagans who are outside the Church
but also of those, who seem to be in it visibly
but are outside of it because of the perversity of their deeds.
Although these glory,
in merely the title of Christian,
they continually persecute faithful Christians.”

St Caesarius of Arles (470-543)

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Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TIME, QUOTES on ZEAL, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 July – ‘Consider the times.’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 9 July – “Month of the Precious Blood” – Readings: Genesis 46: 1-7, 28-30; Psalms 37: 3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; Matthew 10: 16-23

“Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be, therefore, wise as serpents and simple as doves.” –Matthew 10:16

REFLECTION – “I urge you, by the grace in which you are clothed, to press on in your race and urge everyone to be saved. Assert your office with all the diligence of flesh and spirit. Give your attention to unity, for there is nothing better. carry your brethren as the Lord also carries you. Patiently, bear with them all in love, as indeed you do bear with them. Devote yourself to unceasing prayer. Ask for greater understanding than you have. Be watchful, possessing a wakeful spirit. Speak to each one individually, concerning God’s way. “Bear the infirmities” (cf Mt 8,17) of each as a perfect athlete. Where there is more toil, there is greater gain. If you only love the good disciples, this wins you no advantage. Rather, subdue by meekness the more annoying. Not every wound is cured by the same salve. Ease sharp pains with a hot compress. In everything “be wise as serpents” and always “harmless as doves”. You who are of flesh and spirit, humour those things visibly present before you but pray, too, that what is invisible may be manifested to you, so that you may lack nothing and may abound in every spiritual gift.

As pilots invoke the winds and tempest-tossed mariners call for haven, this season invites you to return to God. Be temperate, as God’s athlete. The prize is incorruption and life eternal… It is the part of a great athlete to suffer blows and to conquer. It is above all for God’s sake we ought to endure all things, that He too, may endure us. Become more zealous than you are already. Consider the times. Look for Him Who is above all times, Who is timeless, invisible but made visible for our sakes – He Who, beyond the touch of our hands, beyond suffering, yet knew the Passion for our sakes and endured every suffering.” – St Ignatius of Antioch (c 35-c 108) Father of the Church, Martyr, Bishop – Letter to St Polycarp (69-155) Bishop and Martyr), 1-3 ; SC 10

PRAYER – Father of all holiness, guide our hearts to You. Keep in the light of Your truth, all those You have freed from the darkness of unbelief. May our lives be the source of enlightenment to others and our faith and love every remain strengthened by Your grace. Listen to the prayers of our Blessed Mother on our behalf, as we long for our eternal home. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on VIOLENCE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 July – ‘Citizens of Heaven.’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 10 July – “Month of the Precious Blood” – Friday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year A, Readings: Hosea 14:2-10, Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-14, 17, Matthew 10:16-23 and the Memorial of St Canute of Denmark (c 1042-1086) Martyr

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” … Matthew 10:16matthew 10 16 behold i send you out as sheep - 12 july 2019 and 10 july 2020

REFLECTION – “They live in the flesh but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh.   They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven.   Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law.   Christians love all men but all men persecute them.   Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death but raised to life again.   They live in poverty but enrich many; they are totally destitute but possess an abundance of everything.  They suffer dishonour but that is their glory.   They are defamed but vindicated.   A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult.   For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors but even then they, rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life.   They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.

To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body.   As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world but cannot be identified with the world.   As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world but their religious life remains unseen.   The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures.  Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.

Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body’s hatred.   It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together and, similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together.   The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven.   As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution.   Such is the Christian’s lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself.” …  Ancient Christian writer – From a letter to Diognetus (Nn. 5-6; Funk, 397-401)matthew 10 16 as sheep amidst the wolves - they suffer dishonour but that is their glory - diogenes 10 july 2020

PRAYER – Father of all holiness, guide our hearts to You. Keep in the light of Your truth, all those You have freed from the darkness of unbelief.   May our lives be the source of enlightenment to others and our faith and love every remain strengthened by Your grace.   Listen to the prayers of Your saint and angels on our behalf, as we long for our eternal home.   St Canute, we beg for your prayers.    We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amenst canute of denmark pray for us 10 july 2020

Posted in DOCTRINE, SAINT of the DAY, The SOCIAL TEACHING of the Church, The WORD

Quote of the Day – 12 July – Sheep amidst the wolves

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 12 July – Friday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Matthew 10:16–23 and The Memorial of Sts Louis & Zelie Martin – Parents of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves,
so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Matthew 10:16matthew 10 16 behold i send you out as sheep - 12 july 2019

“They live in the world, that is,
in each and in all
of the secular professions and occupations.
They live in the ordinary circumstances
of family and social life,
from which, the very web, of their existence is woven.
They are called there by God,
that by exercising their proper function
and led by the spirit of the Gospel,
they may work for the sanctification of the world,
from within as a leaven.”

Lumen Gentium 31they-live-in-the-world-lumen-gentium-31

Posted in MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 July – Standing firm?

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 12 July – Friday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Matthew 10:16–23 and the Memorial of St John Gualbert (c 985-1073)

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves,
so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”...Matthew 10:16

REFLECTION – “As Jesus gave His disciples authority to offer valuable services of health, freedom and life, who should they have to face opposition?   The point is, that these good services are not ends in themselves but manifestations of what Jesus came to establish, namely, the Kingdom of heaven.   These services are also the doorway for stirring in people an interest in Jesus, eventually leading them to faith in Him.
So what’s so jarring about the Kingdom of heaven that it provokes persecution?    Since the Kingdom of heaven, ushered in by Jesus, challenges the values of those opposed to it’s values, Jesus anticipates His own rejection and forewarns His disciples to expect persecution, hatred and rejection in His name, even though they will be offering valuable services.
As His disciple, am I willing to continue my services in His name, by standing firm for His cause of establishing God’s reign?”…Fr Isaac SDBmatthew 10 16 behold i send you out as sheep - since the kingdom of heaven - god's word 12 july 2019

PRAYER – Lord God, grant us restless hearts, hearts which seek Your Face.   Keep us from the blindness of heart which sees only the surface of things.   Give us the simplicity and purity which allow us to recognise Your presence in the world.   When we are not able to accomplish great things, grant us the courage which is born of humility and goodness. Impress Your Face on our hearts.   May we encounter You along the way and show Your image to the world.   Grant, we pray that the prayers of St John Gualbert may assist in being courageous and merciful to all.   Through Christ, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.st john gualbert pray for us 12 july 2019

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 13 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 13 July – Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23.

“Jesus said to his Apostles:

“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves”

Matthew 10:16

Jesus’ sending disciples on mission does not guarantee their success, just as it does not protect them from failure and suffering.   They have to take into account both the possibility of rejection and that of persecution.   This is somewhat frightening but it is the truth.
The disciple is called to conform his life to Christ who was persecuted by men, knew rejection, abandonment and death on the cross.   There is no Christian mission marked by tranquility!   Difficulties and tribulations are part of the work of evangelisation and we are called to find in them the opportunity to test the authenticity of our faith and of our relationship with Jesus.   We must consider these difficulties as the opportunity to be even more missionary and to grow in that trust toward God our Father, who does not abandon His children during the storm.
Even in our day, brothers and sisters, persecution against Christians is present.
Their example helps us not to hesitate in taking the position in favour of Christ, bearing witness bravely in everyday situations.
Besides sending us out as “sheep in the midst of wolves”, the Lord even in our times sends us out as sentinels in the midst of people who do not want to be woken from their worldly lethargy which ignores the Gospel’s words of Truth, building for themselves their own ephemeral truths.   And if we go to or live in these contexts and we proclaim the Words of the Gospel, this is bothersome and they will look at us unkindly.
But in all this, the Lord continues to tell us, as He did to the disciples of His time:  “Do not fear!”…Pope Francis (Angelus, 25 June 2017)

“When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say;  for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour;  for it is not you who speak but the Spirit of your Father, speaking through you.”…Matthew 10:19-20besides sending us out - pope francis - 13 july 2018