“Today’s gospel is certainly unsettling,” says Father Jerry during his homily, “Jesus makes it clear that following Him, as one of His disciples, will open us up to a world of hurt. We will be ridiculed and abused, criticized and attacked, or worse. Discipleship will cost some of us our lives.”

“I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves,” Jesus says.

Father asks, “But what about those times when we, you and I, are the wolves who attack the sheep? When we ridicule and criticize those who are trying to do as they believe the spirit is calling them to do? More often than not it’s our ignorance, our fear of the unknown, our skepticism of change that puts us on the defensive, causing us to lash out at those seeking a more just, a more welcoming, a more respectful society.”