Challenge and fearlessly give him a profession of faith Mt 10, 16-23

At the same time, he warns them that they will be as among wolves. And therefore, they are to be as careful as serpents and as simple as doves. How to explain that they are to go among men, yet we hear: Beware of men. I don’t know how it’s in the original (I’m not that educated, nor do I have access to the original Greek Matthew written in Aramaic), but I think it’s meant to say, as it is in the Czech translation, But beware of men-. The apostles are to beware of people – be prepared for trouble. It is also in the context of the above: Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves.

Though we are not apostles (though in some sense we should be), we too are sent among men. And to varying degrees. We are given parents, siblings, and classmates – we are to regard these as God-given gifts. We are to take them as they are, even love them, and be grateful to God for them. To handle the eventual tensions of which the Lord Jesus speaks to us. They are partly our neighbors, our co-workers. Therefore, in part, we can also choose those (by moving, by changing jobs – if we can do so).

What kind of people are we to protect? Perhaps not so much. Those who will hand you over to the courts will scourge you in their synagogues and, for my sake, will drag you before rulers and kings to bear witness to them and the Gentiles. Before those, we have the opportunity to bear witness. It is a Christian virtue, a gift of the Holy Spirit – power. If this is lacking in us Christians, some people terrorize the neighborhood – even the whole parish when no one stands up to them. I have noticed this in the well-publicized case in our parish. Many have said: Leave it alone! Do you know what it is? She will take revenge; she is aggressive, she has connections…

So who are we to protect or fear? Those who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What are they like? Who are the ones who are close to our opportunity to sin! In this regard, the ancient ascetic writers had a motto: In fuga salus (in-flight is salvation). What should this mean? Someone has to avoid friends whom he cannot resist and who will pull him towards gambling, alcohol, dogs, and a life of debauchery. Someone can’t resist some tongues and starts gossiping with them; someone can’t control himself on the playground… We are also sent. We are not tested beyond our strength. It is up to us to be careful and wise whether we keep the counsel of the Lord Jesus.