DO NOT BE BE AFRAID; YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN MANY SPARROWS

Mtt 10: 24-33

Since Wednesday, we have been examining the instructions that Jesus gave to the apostles prior to sending them out to spread throughout Israel the news that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand"

Yesterday we saw Jesus warning his apostles that they were being sent out as "sheep in the midst of wolves." If they were to survive and accomplish their mission, they would have to be as "wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove" and have full trust and confidence in him who was sending them. As we begin verse 24 of this chapter 10, we see that Jesus now changes his tone from being mostly specific to the apostles to general statements that apply to believers of every age. He begins to use the indefinite third person (a disciple, a slave, everyone, whoever, etc.) That clearly indicates that He is speaking about every true believer and not just the apostles. What we examine this morning applies directly to us!

               We have already seen in the previous days that persecution will come to those who live righteously. 

The world hates Jesus, and therefore will hate anyone else who is truly reflective of Him. This morning we hear that again, but with a great hope given to us. Jesus uses these two proverbs of the student and the teacher, the slave and the master to hint at the future that awaits His disciples: their greatest glory will consist in imitating the Master, being identified with Him, even if this means being despised and persecuted as He was before them: His example is what guides a Christian; as He Himself said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life"

There is confidence for disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need not fear what may come regardless of the strength and intensity of persecution that may lie before us, for God has given us eternity. We need not to fear, for God loves us infinitely and He is personally and intimately involved with us. We have to make Christ's doctrine known in its entirety, without any ambiguity, without being influenced by false prudence or fear of the consequences because the public confession of our faith in Jesus whatever the consequences--is an indispensable condition for eternal salvation. And this should be done in action. When we do good deeds to others, we make the Good News alive.

In today’s passage, those who are true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ can have confidence: Confidence in the purpose of their life, Confidence in being used by the Lord, Confidence in the midst of persecution, Confidence in God's intimate care for us, and Confidence when we stand before God at the last day. Let us pray through the intercession of Blessed Kateri that the Lord may make of us his true disciples.