MATTHEW 10:24-33: SATURDAY'S GOSPEL FOR REFLECTION
manuel tuazon, ocds
[Note: The scheduled Reading for today, Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-24, is
taken from the Old Testament. The "Navarre Bible: Texts and
Commentaries" is currently available in the New Testament version only.
Therefore, only today's Gospel and its commentary are being posted.]
A.M.D.G.
For: Saturday, July 12, 1997
14th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial: The Blessed Virgin Mary
From: Matthew 10:24-33
Jesus' Instructions to the Apostles (Continuation)
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(Jesus said to His disciples,) [24] "A disciple is not above his teacher,
nor a servant above his master; [25] it is enough for the disciple to be
like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called
the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those
of his household.
[26] "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be
revealed, or hidden that will not be known. [27] What I tell you in the
dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon
the housetops. [28] And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot
kill the soul; rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in
hell. [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them
will fall to the ground without your Father's will. [30] But even the
hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Fear not, therefore; you are
of more value than many sparrows. [32] So every one who acknowledges Me
before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven;
[33] but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father
who is in heaven."
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Commentary:
24-25. Jesus uses these two proverbs 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"
(John 14:6).
Beelzebul (cf. Luke 11:15) was the name of the idol of the ancient
Philistine city of Ekron. The Jews later used the word to describe the
devil or the prince of devils (cf. Matthew 12:24), and their hatred of
Jesus led them to the extreme of applying it to Him.
To equip them for the persecution and misunderstanding which Christians
will suffer (John 15:18), Jesus encourages them by promising to stay
close to them. Towards the end of His life He will call them His
friends (John 15:15) and little children (John 13:33).
26-27. Jesus tells His disciples not to be afraid of calumny and
detraction. A day will come when everyone will come to know the whole
truth about everyone else, their real intentions, the true dispositions
of their souls. In the meantime, those who belong to God may be
misrepresented by those who resort to lies, out of malice or passion.
These are the hidden things which will be made known.
Christ also tells the Apostles to speak out clearly. Jesus' divine
teaching method led Him to speak to the crowds in parables so that they
came to discover His true personality by easy stages. After the coming
of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:8), the Apostles would have to preach
from the rooftops about what Jesus had taught them.
We too have to make Christ's doctrine known in its entirety, without
any ambiguity, without being influenced by false prudence or fear of
the consequences.
28. Using this and other Gospel texts (Matthew 5:22, 29; 18:9; Mark
9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5), the Church teaches that hell exists; there
those who die in mortal sin suffer eternal punishment (cf. "St. Pius V
Catechism", I, 6, 3), in a manner not known to us in this life (cf. St.
Teresa of Avila, "Life", Chapter 32). See notes on Luke 16:19-31.
Therefore, out Lord warns His disciples against false fear. We should
not fear those who can only kill the body. Only God can cast body and
soul into hell. Therefore God is the only one we should fear and
respect; He is our Prince and Supreme Judge--not men. The martyrs have
obeyed this precept of the Lord in the fullest way, well aware that
eternal life is worth much more than earthly life.
29-31. An "as" (translated here as "penny") was a small coin of very
little value. Christ uses it to illustrate how much God loves His
creatures. As St. Jerome says ("Comm. in Matth.", 10:29-31): "If
little birds, which are of such little value, still come under the
providence and care of God, how is it that you, who, given the nature
of your soul, are immortal, can fear that you are not looked after
carefully by Him whom you respect as your Father?" Jesus again teaches
us about the fatherly providence of God, which He spoke about at length
in the Sermon on the Mount (cf. Matthew 6:19-34).
32-33. Here Jesus tells us that public confession of our faith in
Him--whatever the consequences--is an indispensable condition for
eternal salvation. After the Judgment, Christ will welcome those who
have given testimony of their faith and condemn those whom fear caused
to be ashamed of Him (cf. Matthew 7:23; 25:41; Revelation 21:8). The
Church honors as "confessors" those Saints who have not gone physical
martyrdom but whose lives bore witness to the Catholic faith. Although
every Christian should be ready to die for his faith, most Christians
are called to be confessors of the faith.
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Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentary
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland. Printed in Hungary.
"The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries" is currently available in
the New Testament version only.
"Nihil Obstat": Stephen J. Greene, "Censor Deputatus".
"Imprimi Potest": J. O'Carroll, Diocesan Administrator, 15 October
1987.
Reprinted with permission from the U.S. publisher (see below).
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