Hosea 14:1-10 / Matthew 10:16-23
It is understandable that there are people who don’t like us, even though we may or may not have done anything against them.
And when their dislike turns to hatred and even want to harm us, surely we will take precautions and think of how to defend ourselves.
Certainly, we would want to avoid them at least so as to avoid any confrontation or conflict.
But in the gospel, Jesus said to the Twelve, “Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves, so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.”
And to think that Jesus is also saying that to us would make us shudder with fear.
To be among wolves is like asking for a painful death.
And yet, Jesus tells us to be cunning as serpents and to be as harmless as doves.
To be as cunning as serpents is to be wise enough and not to retaliate with eye for eye and tooth for tooth.
To be wise is to have recourse to the protection and the strength of the Lord.
As the first reading tells us, the ways of the Lord are straight and virtuous men walk in them, but sinners will stumble.
So the wicked and the evil may want to harm and hurt us, but they will stumble.
Because when we walk in the ways of love and forgiveness, then God will fight our battles for us.
God had promised that He will protect us.
Let us put our trust in the Lord and we will see the marvellous power of His love for us.