It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Christ holds supreme authority over His Church as Son and heir, not merely as a servant like Moses and the prophets. To wish ourselves believers yet murmur when God conforms us to His image shows an unseemly delicacy; we cannot hold a place in His house and rank ourselves above our Lord.
AI summary
Christ sends you as sheep into wolves' jaws, so you must learn to combine the serpent's cunning with the dove's innocence. He forewarned the disciples of sufferings to come, not to shake their faith, but to steel it; when troubles arrive as He predicted, they will confirm rather than destroy what you believe.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 10:16-42
Their reproaches will be revealed for what they are: malice and spite dressed in sanctity. Men cover their wickedness awhile with fair names, but time exposes it to shame; so too the innocence of Christ's followers, though traduced now, will in due course appear in quite another light.
AI summary