“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16
My Summary & Reflection
Jesus tells his disciples that he is sending them out to preach his gospel like sheep among wolves. He directs them to therefore be as wise as snakes, and as peaceful as doves.
Jesus is talking to the twelve disciples that he had recruited and trained to teach and preach his gospel. He directed them to go out among their own people to teach, as well as to heal and give. He told them not to take any provisions with them, but to rely upon the goodness of those to whom they were preaching to provide for them food, shelter, and clothing as needed.
With the acknowledgement that Jesus was sending them out as sheep among wolves, he let them know that their mission would be dangerous. The disciples were risking their lives in complying with the direction Jesus had assigned to them. The wolves were those who would do anything, including murder, in order to maintain the belief system, the hierarchy, and the way of life that they had come to know.
These twelve were hand-picked by Jesus to become “fishers of men.” I believe that we are each handed our own directives and missions and, as it was for the disciples, the way forward may be difficult or even dangerous. What Jesus seems to be saying is that just because the road ahead is rocky, doesn’t mean it’s not the correct way to go. For each of us, we must follow in the direction that the spirit provides to keep moving forward on the path that Jesus would have us go.
I know that for me, sometimes, I can get discouraged when something doesn’t work out as I would like. I start to think that maybe the difficult path is telling me that I’m going the wrong way. This scripture says to me, though, that just because a path is easy, doesn’t make it right. In fact, the opposite may be true. If everything in your path is easy, it may be that you are not trying hard enough. You are not taking enough risks. You are not fulfilling your potential.
As for how to navigate the path ahead, Jesus provides the direction to be as wise as serpents, but as harmless as doves. He is telling his disciples to stay smart, but always cool-headed. Use your knowledge, your intelligence, and your experience to overcome all obstacles, but never let adversity drive you to hatred or revenge. Fulfill your mission with wisdom and with love for everyone that you encounter, regardless of whether they greet you as a friend or attack you as enemy. In order to complete your mission, the way that you complete it matters. Without the wisdom and the love, your mission remains incomplete.
Your Reflection
- How do you maintain clarity about your mission when your path becomes difficult to navigate?
- How do you remain loving in the presence of those who are actively working against you?