As sheep among wolves

Our times truly call for courage. It’s like a fierce battle between good and evil. In the Philippines the good and the evil might not be so readily obvious. Evil like drugs, gambling, laundering money by a subtle kurakot system, illegal logging, cheating may all be done by those who pose as distinguished officials of the president’s cabinet, representatives and senators in Congress and sometimes we wonder if there are judges in the judiciary.

It becomes hard for anyone working for the common good and who speaks up or exposes the hidden truth about who is causing the destabilization in government and society. Usually, like our brave media men who are diehard for freedom and justice to expose the truth following the principle that "truth will make one free", criminals and lawless elements are hired to liquidate those who are working for the good. What Jesus Christ predicted about people becoming wolves still hold in our time. If one good person fails to recognize these wolves it can be they are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

The Gospel today brings us to the time when Jesus was preparing His 12 apostles for the mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God – His concealed and secret coming to be proclaimed openly by His apostles. "Behold, I am sending you as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people for they will hand you over in courts... and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake... do not worry about what you are to speak... but it will not be you who will speak but the Spirit of My Father speaking through you . . . You will be hated by all because of My Name; but whoever endures to the end will be saved" (Mt 10:16-19)

They were Jesus’ first apostles who would be His Church and carry the Word to the ends of the earth. Today, we speak of apostles, followers of Christ, who being the light of truth and reveal the love and mercy of God to people – religious and laity, the humble catechist, workers for the poor in social development, the authentic promoter of family integrity, NGOs who are really and truly into promoting health, economy, the improvement of the quality of life, cultural and religious development and above all integral evangelization which includes the Christian elements in all aspects of life. The involvement of rich and poor in the present movement, Pondo ng Pinoy with its vision of love towards its neighbor, rich and poor alike, and it thrust to gather the "crumbs" which fall from the luxurious and lavish table of the rich to feed a universal hunger whose wave threatens to engulf the bigger sectors of society and the whole world.

The more crucial problem of exploitation, manipulation in the work places even in such organizations for charity is a dilemma because even here the ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ are the lay and even religious users, who treat persons as mere functions or commodities working them up to the hilt and using their capacities as if they were carabaos in the field who get little or no remuneration for their work except to tie them up to rest underneath a tree for a breather.

To such true apostles and followers and sheep of Christ, He addresses the assuring words: "Be not afraid (of wolves both with and without sheep’s clothing)... you are worth more than many sparrows . . . yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge" (Mt 10:32). The Word of God today assures us that not one of His sheep in their zeal for the spread of the Kingdom can be harmed by the powers of evil – all forms of evil most especially those wolves in sheep’s clothing. Jesus gives us courage in the face of every kind of persecution. If we are sheep, we should fully trust in the All Caring Jesus.

"Let us sing then to the Lord for He has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked" (Jer 20:13). If we choose to be sheep rather than wolves then, we get all the grace and life through Christ. For if by transgression we have to suffer and die, how much more does the grace of God and the great gift of the one Person Jesus Christ overflow for the redemption of many" (Rom 5:13).

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary, Matthew 10:26-33.