Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Mt 10: 24-33
July 15, 2023 | Saturday
A student is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. A student should be content to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If the head of the household has been called Beelzebul, how much more, those of his household! So, do not be afraid of them!
There is nothing covered that will not be uncovered. There is nothing hidden that will not be made known. What I am telling you in the dark, you must speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops.
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. For a few cents you can buy two sparrows. Yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father knowing. As for you, every hair of your head has been counted. Do not be afraid: you are worth more than many sparrows!
Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Whoever rejects me before others, I will reject before my Father in heaven.
Today’s Reflection:
Our gospel today comforts us with this message— Do not fear. Believers, like all human beings, are not immune from fear. There is a fear that is useful and well grounded while there is fear that is based on illusion and ignorance of the total picture. A large part of all pastoral
care and spiritual direction consists in helping people to discern the difference between these two kinds of fear. This is basically one of Jesus’ missions, to teach us what to fear and what not to fear. In the context of the vision of God that Jesus proclaims, the only thing we must
ultimately fear is final separation from the source of life. All else, even the destruction of the body in death, rests in the hands of the Father, and thus, we must not fear. Today’s gospel reminds us to fear God alone, and not to fear human beings. We must trust in God’s care. Let us reflect—What are the sources of our fears? /Vulnerasti, 2023
