These verses constitute a warning about persecution. If they called Jesus Beelzebul, how much more will they insult His disciples? In other words, as His disciples, we should be worried if we don’t encounter persecution. Suffering in life is unavoidable. Yet, the irony of our addictions is that while they temporarily can relieve our suffering, they cause us to suffer more and worse in the long run. Jesus calls us to a certain type of suffering, not one emptied of meaning that leads to destruction but a type that models His sacrificial love for us. And as His passion and death reveal to us, it is precisely by suffering with Him that we come to experience true freedom and joy. This is stunningly good news. It’s why He also tells us today to not be afraid to suffer the right way, whether that’s for proclaiming His name to others or doing the hard but life-saving work of recovery with the help of His grace.

Jesus promises to advocate for us if we acknowledge Him as our Lord and Savior before others, even if it entails persecution. Let us do so through word and deed in our recovery circles, where we have a unique opportunity to personally witness to the truth of the risen Lord.

Reflection Questions

• What role has fear played in your addiction as well as your recovery? How do you currently manage it?
• Have you ever been persecuted for announcing the Gospel and, if so, what was that experience like? How do you deal with the temptation to deny Jesus before others to keep things more “comfortable?”

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7
Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Reflection by Stephanie N.