BE WISE AS SERPENTS AND INNOCENT AS DOVES (Matt 10:16)

⏰Friday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (08 July 2022)

📖Hos 14:1-9; Ps 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14 and 17 (R.v.17b); Matt 10:16-23

The prophet Hosea continues to call on us to repent and return to the Lord our God (Hosea 14:1). This return promises good tidings. Listen to this: “They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom as the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon” (Hosea 14:8).

That shows that under the shadow of God, there shall be fullness of joy. Only the wise can choose to return. But a lot of things can deter us. These can be in terms of worldly attractions or other forms of temptations or sufferings.

Jesus warned his disciples ahead of time while he was sending them out on their First Missionary journey which was among their kinsmen, the Jews, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as the dove” (Matt 10:16) so that they might not lose their faith in the process.

Our world today also places us in the danger of being lured away from our faith in God, and so, away from his protection. Jesus, however, encourages us today that “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt 10:22).

It pays to be under the shadow of Jesus. No evil can befall you there. We therefore pray that Jesus may give us the grace to remain under his shadow, not minding our different encounters in life that tend to drive us away from him. Amen.

Have a beautiful and prosperous day under the mantle of Jesus, our Lord and saviour. Peace be with you dear.