From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah today we see that the purification of a prophet is necessary before he is sent to do his work – the purification of any minister of the Lord is necessary before his / her work can be really and truly effective.
The human condition has so much that needs to be modified, cleansed and changed in order for the human instrument of God to be credible and useful.
In the reading, the one who is to speak for God has his mouth purified by an ember from the altar of God. He then is able to volunteer to do God's work by saying to God "send me" when God asks for a volunteer to deliver his message – because he knows he is now ready!
Jesus readies his Apostles to deliver the same message of hope and love and salvation to the same people of God. Times will be very difficult when they are sent out. Those associated with Jesus will be very harshly treated – because his message makes them look directly at themselves and they are not happy at all with what they see. So they strike back out of ignorance and downright meanness.
But Jesus tells the Apostles not to be afraid of those who can kill the body – but not the soul. Death is not the worse that can happen to them. Submitting to one who can kill the soul is worse! Giving in and siding with the evil one – in the many devious ways in which he operates - can kill the soul! DON'T DO THAT! Jesus tells them! They must remember above all else that whoever acknowledges him before others he will acknowledge before his Father in heaven, but whoever denies him before others he will deny before his heavenly Father!
It is necessary for us to become LIKE our teacher and master: Jesus, to share in a LIKE persecution and even death itself (so that we can share in a like resurrection): but ALL OF IT UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE and TENDER CARE OF GOD THE FATHER – who will see us through what we need to go through until the end of our journey and the end of the history of the world. Then the grand and glorious reward will be given us for all our trials and tribulations and labors!
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you.
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