“When the church hears the cry of the oppressed, it cannot but denounce the social structures that give rise to and perpetuate the misery from which the cry arises.”

 (Oscar Romero)

Matthew 10:26-33

The gospel reading from Matthew has a similar theme. It is an excerpt taken from a longer section about the difficulties of discipleship. Jesus warns the disciples of the hardships they will experience as they preach – intimidation, rejection, suffering and even death. He tells them not to fear people who seek to harm them. God is protecting them. 

Discipleship does not mean that we are protected from hardships. Standing up for our faith or its values often brings hardship. 

Sometimes we see it in dramatic ways when people speak out against injustice. Dietrich Bonhoeffer from Germany was killed by the Nazis in 1945. St Oscar Romero, former Archbishop of El Salvador, spoke out against the government of the day and its treatment of the poor and was assassinated. Dr Martin Luther King Jr, who fought for civil rights, was shot and died. Annalena Tonelli, a lawyer, was killed because she brought HIV/AIDS patients to the tuberculosis hospital she founded in Borama. 

In our own country, those who work for justice often put their lives on the line, as we saw recently when gunmen assassinated Cloete Murray, a top liquidator of assets acquired through corruption. 

Fortunately, most of us will never have to face violence or death by standing up for the values of our faith. However, faithful discipleship may still come at a cost - as it did for Jeremiah, Jesus and countless people who have spoken truth to power or ministered to others in hostile situations. 

For us, too, sometimes standing up against racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other societal evils will not make us popular.   

We may face scorn or find ourselves pushed away by family, friends, or those we engage with on social media. Sometimes we struggle in the ordinary situations of our lives. We may give our all at work but find our intentions misinterpreted. We might experience a painful struggle in an important relationship after challenging the person we are concerned about to get the help we can see the need.   

We can come to God and vent our frustration and pain in those moments. God is never pushed away by us telling our experience as it is. And still, we hear the promise that however dark it seems to be, we are not alone. 

Where do you feel most angry with God about the circumstances of your life? Have a conversation with God and listen for the response.

Reflections by Annemarie Paulin-Campbell

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