Breaking the Word – Page 2269 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

09.07.11 DISCIPLE AND MASTER

Posted under Reflections on July 10th, 2011 by

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. (Mt 10:24-33)

The disciple will be treated like the teacher and the slave like the master. Jesus was treated badly by the people. He was called by bad names (Beelzebul, drunkard, glutton, eunuch etc.). He was thrown out of the city, thrown out of the religion, and crucified. The disciple also will be thrown of the society, criticised by the religious people and persecuted in everyway.

The disciples should be bold enough to speak openly in public. They should be proclaiming always. They should proclaim all what they have heard from Jesus. They should not be afraid of people in proclaiming the word of God. Word of God will be met with opposition. Proclamation will be prevented. It will be objected to. The disciple should not be afraid of the persecutors.

The disciples should believe that they are cared for. God cares for all (whole) of his creation. He cared even for a sparrow. He also cares for even part of a creation. (Even all the hair of your head are counted). God is so caring and so protective. God will be more protective and caring for those who are his disciples and who proclaim his word in public.

07.07.11 TIPS FOR MISSIONARIES

Posted under Reflections on July 7th, 2011 by

As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words — go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. (Mt 10:7-15)

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give is the message that Jesus gives to his disciples. Proclamation of the kingdom and works of the kingdom (healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the leper, and driving out demons) are gifts of God. Proclamation of the kingdom is free job and the works of the kingdom are also free gifts of God. These are not personally acquired talents but freely given gifts from God.

Labourer deserves his keep. Labourer should not long for rewards and should not work for rewards and should carry about his necessities. Even the necessities should be a worry for the kingdom labourer. Since God is the giver of all gifts and all things, God knows that the labourers deserve his reward. God will provide them with all these.

Labourer is suppose to greet peace. Peace is the only gift and only greetings for the labourers. If there is not peace then it is not the place of ministry for the labourers. But the labourers should always offer peace. Peace should be the possession that a labourer has. The places without peace are like Sodom and Gomorrah.