When they persecute you in one town
Gn 46,1-7.28-30; Ps 36; Mt 10,16-23
12 JULY
The disciple of Jesus is sent into the world to build up the kingdom of God, which is accomplished in the body of Christ, which is his Church founded on Peter, on the Apostles and on the Prophets, according to the teaching of the Holy Spirit contained in the prophetic Scriptures.
And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love (Eph 4,11-16).
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (Cf. 1Cor 12,1.31).
If the goal is the building up of Christ’s body, it is accomplished through five actions that oblige every missionary of Jesus: going to every people, proclaiming the Gospel, making disciples, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching believers how to live the Gospel. If this is the essential, fundamental and primary purpose, the testimony with the blood is a means, just as the prison, beatings, slander and every other evil of the world towards the missionaries are means. As far as depends on the disciple, these means must be avoided. Even the spillage of blood must be avoided. It must be the world that decides it and not him. This is why Jesus asks his followers to leave the places of persecution and go to other cities. Escape is necessary for the construction of Christ’s body. If then one is obliged to death, he offers it to Jesus, but always so that his kingdom can be built. The kingdom is our only end.
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Everything that the disciple of Jesus does in words and deeds must be aimed at building up the body of Christ. If the body is not built, our missionary activity is vain. The fruit is the body of Christ. We do not produce this body, we are sterile trees. It is not necessary to shed blood for Jesus if his body is not built.
Mother of God, Angels and Saints arrange that every Christian builds the body of Christ in the world.