OUR SUNDAY’S IN JUNE

MATTHEW is the center of the Gospel readings for June and he writes at a time of his community’s history after the Temple had been destroyed and Judaism was being reorganized.  Those Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah were being forced out of synagogues.  They were no longer welcomed.  The apostles , meaning “those sent” were given two tasks: announce that the reign of God had arrived and second,  offer signs to prove it.  Their signs were to cast out demons and to heal the sick. Jesus refers to the “harvest” which was a way of referring to the final judgment – that message was urgent – for their might not be enough workers to get that harvest into the barn before it is ruined.

Rick Warren, in his book  The Purpose Driven Life , says “ You are going to give your life for something – what shall it be – a career, a sport. fame, wealth?” On the very next page Warren offers a question to consider:”What is holding me back from accepting God’s call to serve Him?”

For most of us it is fear.  We lack trust today!  We hold back from fully embracing the Christian message still taking too many things into our own hands.  When sending out the twelve, Jesus knew that they would encounter opposition.  He told then clearly, “Fear no one.” Secrets were hated in Jesus’ day.  The only things that were truly hidden were sinful things.

If we surrender to God’s will – will we know what will happen?  Jesus said we will be filled with joy.   Will we be freed from the hurtful things of life?  No, but we will have joy despite them.

 The last Sunday in June, we celebrate Peter and Paul, the apostles.  Talk about trust!  They were both held in prison – Tullianum, or lower chamber – repulsive because of neglect, dampness and smell.   It was a holding place prior to executions.  Some were left simply to starve.  Paul’s letter today, is his last as he was executed shortly after writing it.  In this letter we read Paul’s final reflections – those of a condemned man – the ending of his life “being poured out like a libation” – thus identifying himself with the self-sacrifice of Christ.  He does this to witness his faithfulness to Christ.
Todays reading from Acts describes Peter’s escape from prison – helped by an angel.  It certainly had to be a miracle of some sort because Peter was chained to two guards and other guards were at the doors.  Like Paul, Peter did nothing of his own accord.  He trusted God.  God was the one who released him. 

As we ponder Father’s Day, fears in our own lives and trust – perhaps the most important thought is to see the witness expressed by the faith of both Paul and Peter.  They were simply loyal to Christ.  They loved Christ intensely and spoke of their love.  This love – their preaching – landed them both in prison and eventually led to their deaths.  Do we love Christ this much?  Are we willing to follow Christ to prison and death?  Do we have this trust?