Gospel: Matthew 10: 16-23
In today's Gospel portion we are provided with the blueprint for the Christian's demeanor in the world. Jesus states that we are sheep in the midst of wolves. Sheep are not aggressive or predatory animals. They are the hunted, as is the Christian. We are to flee from town to town in the face of persecution. We are not to employ the angry or vindictive word. When the time comes we will be given what to say before the teeth of the enemy.
If one is confused by this image Jesus provides, that is understandable. Notably absent is the appeal to weaponry and violence. There is no quarter to be found in political parties or governments. No use of the wiles of modern media and its propaganda. All the things the modern Christian avails themselves are utterly rejected by the Lord Jesus. Firmly rooted in the tradition from which he came, Jesus echoes the Psalmist - from where shall come my help? My help is from the Lord.
The atheist is not the one who rejects God and does not attend church. The atheist is the modern Christian who claims belief in God but does not live such. Most Christians of modern times do not believe in God. They believe in the strong man, the money and power, the propaganda machines of the media empires, the political power and influence they have cultivated like bitter grapes. Today is a day for us to follow the example of Jesus, who lived his own teaching at his arrest, trial, and death. Our help is from the Lord...
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