Reflection for July 13 Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 10:24-33

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! 

“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who suddenly died in an accident. While on his way to heaven St. Peter suddenly stopped him, he asked the man: “What have you done for Jesus when you were still alive?” The man wasn’t able to answer because he was solely devoted to his many earthly concerns. 

Someday in the foreseeable future, our lives shall come to an end as well, and perhaps God will ask us, "What have you done for me? Have you acknowledged me before others? Have you lived and shared my teachings?" How would you answer God during that time? 

While we are still in our life’s journey let us not forget the importance of acknowledging Jesus and the importance of sharing and living our faith in Him. If so far we have been solely concerned with the things of this world we are therefore being gently reminded that this world is temporary and passing. 

Only God is everlasting. We will not be able to escape our appointment with death someday. And when that day comes, our fervent hope is that we will be allowed entry by Saint Peter into the pearly gates because we’ve done something for Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas