Witness

Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
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.”
Matthew 10:16-23

Prayer

Dear Father your Apostles suffered much to bring Jesus' name to others as it was told to them. They are known to us as saints where we pray for their intercession to you and your Son. They continue to do your work in death as well as in life. Just as your Son has done the same, but in different regards. We have him with us in the Eucharist where he is found all over the world. They have endured for Jesus' sake and we sometimes persecute our own in our day for the sake of Jesus holy name. May we endure for the sake of God's Kingdom as his witnesses. Amen