Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – June 21, 2026 – Sr. Nancy Wellmeier, SNDdeN Matthew 10:26-33 There is no doubt that Matthew was familiar with numbers. We do not know if he was chosen to collect taxes from the subjugated Israelites because he was already an accountant or if he learned on the job. Perhaps seeing the difficulty his own people had paying the tax led him to respond so eagerly to Jesus’ invitation to follow him and join the group of disciples, who were warned of the persecution they will face, but reassured that the Spirit of Gold will speak through them, even though they are entangled in family disputes and political persecution. Holding out until the end could involve being constantly uprooted, but they should be glad to be like their teacher, Jesus, open to truth and light, going where they are received. They are not to fear death of the body but rather him who can destroy the soul as well as the body in Gehenna. Even the sparrows, worth next to nothing, according to the financial estimate of Matthew, is in the care and concern of God. This same care and concern of God the Father […]