Reflection for 10/18/17

Have you ever stopped to imagine what it would be like to be a lamb among wolves?  I imagine that it would be a little intimidating to say the least.  A lamb is the epitome of helplessness.  A lamb is completely unable to care for itself.  A lamb is a young sheep.  A lamb relies on its parents for assistance and protection.  So a lamb among wolves would be very vulnerable.

 

In addition, our Lord tells his disciples, “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;

and greet no one along the way.”  Essentially, Jesus desires that we be completely vulnerable when we preach the Gospel, but isn’t this the necessary element of preaching the Gospel anyway?  If a person only ever speaks about Jesus, then people may hear what he or she is saying, but they will probably never be moved to action.  Rather, when one preaches the Gospel, he or she must share with others his or her own relationship with Jesus.  We must become vulnerable and share our own faith journey.  We must not only talk about Jesus, but we must bring others to know the person of Jesus Christ, which requires true vulnerability.

 

In addition to being vulnerable, we are also being called by our Lord to be a victim for others.  A lamb among wolves is essentially giving it’s life to the wolves.  When we go out to preach the Gospel, we must give ourselves for those to whom we are preaching—through sacrifice and suffering for others.  When we are rejected, offer it up for those to whom we preach.  When we are ridiculed, offer it up for those to whom we preach.  When we are encountering opposition, offer it up for those to whom we preach.  Our sufferings and sacrifices, when united to the cross of Christ, can be more powerful in the conversion of others than we might realize.