Have Courage

Being a Christian always presents a challenge. Our faith requires us to renounce selfishness, which can spark an internal struggle. The desire for wealth, power, and pleasure is incompatible with faith in God. We must also contend with situations and people that seek to draw us away from our faith. We may find ourselves unable to practice our faith at work or during business hours, or we may face prohibitions from society or the authorities.

 

This Sunday’s Gospel recounts the sending of the disciples on mission, and Jesus warns us that a disciple may face rejection or misunderstanding because of their faith in Him—even within their own family or closest circle. Today, many families avoid discussing matters of faith to maintain harmony at home. Though we rarely realize it, this lack of faith in God has become a primary source of unhappiness and conflict in modern families.

 

The demands of discipleship to Jesus Christ are presented in all their severity. Matthew wrote his Gospel during a time of persecution. To remain faithful to Christ, disciples often had to sever ties with their loved ones—parents, spouses, and children. We must remember that, because Jewish religious leaders had decided to expel those who embraced the Christian faith from the synagogues, these believers were branded as heretics and rejected by their families.

 

This Sunday’s Gospel passage seeks to encourage persecuted Christians by reminding them of Jesus’s words. Jesus calls upon His disciples to have the courage to stand without support, protection, or material security for the sake of His Gospel.

 

Jesus’s message is neither superficial nor abstract; it touches directly upon our family life. How many young people today truly consider their faith in God when choosing a partner? How many Catholic parents take their children to outings, parties, or swimming and music lessons on Sundays, yet neglect their own life of faith and their responsibility to raise their children in it? And how many Catholic couples consider it normal to terminate a pregnancy when a child comes at an inconvenient time?

 

Today, God reminds us of the extraordinary promise made to those who welcome the proclaimers of the Gospel—in both word and deed: “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” We have not all received the same qualities and gifts from God; nevertheless, in various ways and with equal generosity, every true believer is called to support, in the best possible way, those who dedicate themselves to proclaiming the Gospel.

 

May the Lord always give you his peace.

 

Fr. Lalo Jara, OFM

Pastor, Mission San Luis Rey Parish