Reflection Date: July 10, 2026 | Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings:Hosea 14:2-10; Matthew 10:16-23
Children of God:
During my recent visit to Chennai, India, one of the places that deeply moved me was Saint Thomas Mount.
It was a quiet hill, yet it carried centuries of history and faith. Tradition holds that this was the place where Saint Thomas the Apostle was martyred for proclaiming Christ.
Standing there, I felt a strange mixture of awe, gratitude, and reflection.
I realized that I was standing on the same ground where one of Jesus' closest disciples gave his life for the Gospel.
What struck me most was something almost ironic.
Saint Thomas is remembered more as "Doubting Thomas" than as the courageous apostle who traveled all the way to India and died for his faith.
People often remember his moment of doubt but forget his lifelong witness.
He did not merely believe in Jesus; he shed his blood for Him.
Standing on that hill, I asked myself: How often do we define people by their weaknesses rather than by their faithfulness?
In the gospel story of Matthew, Jesus prepared His disciples for the realities of mission.
He did not promise them comfort, popularity, or success.
Instead, He warned them that they would face rejection, persecution, and suffering.
"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves." (Matthew 10:16).
Jesus knew that following Him would not be easy.
What are our inspirations for today?
First, we are not alone.
Jesus warned the disciples that they would be handed over, persecuted, and even betrayed by those closest to them.
The early Christians experienced these sufferings, and many gave their lives for the faith.
Fear could easily have silenced them. Yet they continued proclaiming the Gospel because they trusted in God's presence.
Jesus said, "When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; you will be given at that time what you are to say." (Matthew 10:19).
The disciples did not rely solely on their own strength or wisdom.
They trusted that the Holy Spirit would accompany them in every trial.
God never abandoned them in their darkest moments.
Today, many people also experience pressures and struggles because of their values and beliefs.
Some are ridiculed for living honestly.
Others are misunderstood because they choose what is right rather than what is popular.
When we remember that God walks with us, we can remain steadfast.
We are not alone.
Second, what we stand for is more important than what we go through.
There in India, standing before the image of St. Thomas who was pierced by the enemies of the gospel, I realized that Saint Thomas could have abandoned his mission when difficulties arose.
He could have returned home or chosen a safer life.
Instead, he remained faithful because he knew that Christ was worth everything.
His faith gave meaning even to suffering and sacrifice.
Jesus reminded His disciples not to fear those who could harm the body but not the soul.
The Lord invited them to keep their eyes fixed on what truly mattered: fidelity to God.
Temporary suffering could never outweigh eternal life with Him.
Many people today compromise their values because they fear rejection, criticism, or loss.
Yet the Gospel challenges us to ask ourselves what principles we are truly willing to live for.
A life rooted in truth, integrity, and faith may bring difficulties, but it also brings deep peace.
What we stand for is more important than what we go through.
As we reflect today, we ask ourselves: do we allow fear to silence us when we should speak and act according to our faith?
Do we trust that the Holy Spirit guides us when we face difficult situations and decisions? Do we value our relationship with God more than the approval and acceptance of others?
Children of God:
Jesus did not sugar-coat the cost of discipleship, but neither did He leave His disciples alone.
He promised them His Spirit, His strength, and His abiding presence.
The challenges we face today may differ from those of the apostles, yet the call remains the same: to be courageous witnesses of Christ.
The world still needs men and women who stand firm in truth and love.
May we learn from Saint Thomas that faith is not merely believing with our minds but living with courage and conviction.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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