Hosea 14:2-10 / Matthew 10:16-23
If there is a passage in the gospels that we would rather not listen to, it would probably be the passage in today's gospel reading.
In this gospel passage, Jesus talks about danger and persecution and betrayal.
But there may be one sentence that will catch our attention and imagination.
Jesus instructed His disciples, and also to us, to be cunning as serpents and harmless as doves.
And before that He say that He is sending us out like sheep among wolves, and we know what wolves will do to sheep.
Then He gave the images of two creatures and their characteristics - the cunning (or shrewd) serpent and the harmless (or docile) dove.
As much as it may initially seem contradictory, both characteristics are needed in order to survive and even overcome a dangerous and hostile world.
And we should be able to understand that we need that wisdom (like that of a serpent) and humility (like that of a dove) in order to live out our Christian calling and to be disciples of Jesus.
Let us ask the Lord Jesus to grant us that wisdom and humility.