Scripture:
Reflection:
Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
Today’s gospel passage reminds us of Aesop’s tale of The Wolves And The Sheep.1
A pack of Wolves lurked near the Sheep pasture. But the dogs kept them all at a respectful distance, and the Sheep grazed in perfect safety. But now the Wolves thought of a plan to trick the Sheep. “Why is there always this hostility between us they said? If it were not for those dogs, who are always stirring up trouble, we are sure we should get along beautifully. Send them away and you will see what good friends we shall become”. The Sheep were easily fooled. They persuaded the dogs to go away, and that very evening the Wolves had the grandest feast of their lives.
Jesus tells us that we are the sheep of his flock. But who then are the dogs that are trying to protect us and the wolves who are trying to deceive us? If we live the gospel message as witnesses before “men and pagans” for the sake of our faith, then those who would try to detract us from our Christian way of life must be the wolves intent on deceiving us. Those who nurture and share our faith are obviously the gentle dogs trying to protect us.
Jesus suggests we should be as shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. By this coaching he suggests that we should not have much difficulty sorting out who is who. The challenge becomes our own decision about who to follow. “Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
Isn’t this, in a nutshell, the challenge of our everyday life? We need to judiciously sort out the family members, friends, associates, coworkers, newsfeeds, entertainment forums. and even strangers who continuously encourage us to follow the precepts of our faith vs those who continuously try to dissuade us from living our life’s values for the sake of his name. And we shouldn’t forget that the most cunning wolf of all might be the one lurking in our own conscience who is continuously trying to lead us down the wrong path. Wouldn’t it be a blessing to be able to silence that one forever? Jesus gives us the courage to pursue. “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given, at that moment, what you are to say.”
Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.
Bill Berger has had a lifelong relationship with the Passionist Family. Bill and his wife, Linda, are currently leaders of the Community of Passionist Partners (CPPs) in Houston, Texas.