We read today’s Gospel in the context of last week’s Gospel in which Jesus sent the twelve disciples to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. In between last week’s reading and today’s reading, Jesus has predicted that the disciples will face difficulties in their mission. Many people will not receive them well, even within the land of Israel. Even family members will turn away from the disciples because of the disciples’ commitment to Jesus and the kingdom. Today’s Gospel offers the disciples consolation against this difficult truth.

In this Gospel passage, Jesus might be understood as putting suffering in perspective. The disciples of Jesus are called upon to keep their focus on God. Those who can harm the body do not have ultimate power; God does. Still persecution and suffering can not be avoided or prevented. But Jesus reassures his disciples that God knows and cares about what happens to his children.

Francisco Palau’s life is without a reason called “fertile failure”. He failed in all his effords in making his life a living witness of God’s love. He entered the convent, and after few years had to leave it forever as religious life had been forbidden in Spain in his times. He lived a life of holiness in France where he met with hostility and jealousy of the priests and bishops. He opened the School of Virtue, a catechetical center for evangelization, and after three years was deported, exiled due to suspition of revolutionary activity. He felt the call of the Church to cast out demons, and by the Church in person of the bishops was forbidden from this ministry. He founded a religious congregation that shortly after his death split into two. Failure after failure. And still God ractified his commitment and now we call him “blessed” and we honor his memory living the same charism he was giving for the benefit of the whole Church.

We might not face the same type of persecution, but we do experience difficulties as we endeavor to live a Christian life. Sometimes we let the opinions of others prevent us from doing what we know to be right. We need the reminder that what God thinks about us is more important. We are reassured by the promise that God cares for us and protects us.