"Fear no one . . . speak in the light . . . proclaim on the housetops."
The Word for Sunday: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062517.cfm
Jer 20: 10-13
Rom 5: 12-13
Mt 10: 26-33
When I was around 6th grade my younger brother and I loved to watch a television show entitled "The Twilight Zone"which was popular in the late 1950's and early 60's and still plays today in eternal reruns. The show presented some pretty fanciful science and psychological thrillers that seemed real enough, at least to the mind of a 9 or 10 year old boy, which created a strange sense of foreboding. It played with your imagination with wild scenarios which appeared on the verge of possibility. I would have an odd desire to be frightened yet was also intrigued by the possibility that outer space aliens might really come to earth and dupe us into being food for them through their alleged benevolence for humanity. So I was fearful yet also attracted by the possibility that such things may actually happen. Not sure what I would have done if they did. Probably run and hide under the covers!
Looking
back of course on such ungrounded fears they seem a bit silly. Obviously, I
eventually got over this and barely even think about it today. Science fiction is fiction. Yet, fear in far more exaggerated forms with far better reasons, such as a real threat to life and safety, are very
grounded in the experience of many.
Instilling fear seems to be a tactic of various dangerous groups around
the world these days and just listening to the news can create much concern for
any of us.
In our
readings this weekend, despite the fact that three times in the Gospel we hear
Jesus say: “Do not be afraid,” we
hear a message of both hope and comfort at the same time. Still, three times in the Gospel Jesus tells us: “Do not fear” so there must be something to be afraid of? It might
feel the same as if a parent said to their child waiting in the doctor’s
reception area: “Now don’t be afraid!” Yikes!
In our first reading, the
prophet Jeremiah comes across as the most revealing of the Old
Testament prophets. He honestly shares
his real anxiety with his readers: “I
hear the whispers of many; terror on every side! . . . we can prevail and take
vengeance upon him.” This is not the lament of a paranoid prophet but the
real experience of rejection and misunderstanding this great prophet of the
Babylonian exile shared intimately in his writings.
Soon,
though, Jeremiah turns it around in an inspiring response to the fear he
experiences: “But the LORD is with me
like a mighty champion . . . praise the LORD, for he has rescued the life of
the poor . . .” Even though Jeremiah found the vocation of a prophet to be deeply challenging, he knew that good was on his side and
God would be his rescuer in spite of what may have seemed insurmountable
odds. The point of Jeremiah’s honest
sharing is that he never lost hope in the protection that God promised and
neither should we.
We move to
the Gospel and find ourselves in the middle of Matthew chapter 10 which offers
the advice of Jesus to the 12 disciples he had sent out on mission. While there may be some glamour in
representing the ministry of this great prophet of God whose teaching and power
was by this time evident, our Lord well knew what and where his disciples would
encounter opposition. Earlier Jesus told
them, “I am sending you like sheep in the
midst of wolves.” (Mt 10: 16). If these men had any naïve expectations they
would be welcomed with open arms with the message of the good news, this
statement alone would have squelched their enthusiasm.
Yet, this
reality check by our Lord uncovers the necessity for the Gospel message of
hope. Our Gospel passage today is far
more filled with encouragement than it is with foreboding. Jesus encourages his
disciples to share the good news openly, to speak in “the light” of day for all
to know. No secrets, nothing
hidden. They are not being sent with a
“good bye and good luck” attitude but rather the confidence of knowing that in
spite of the hard times of rejection ahead, their loyalty to Christ and the
power of the message they carry will prevail.
Jesus will remain with them so do not be afraid. God knows everything intimately so have
confidence since your worth is far more to God than any living thing.
So it is
with some fears we have. We simply grow
out of them or overcome them in time. If
we fear too much, it may indicate that we lack faith. If we find ourselves always worried about out
welfare, our health, our safety then we need to confront those fears and judge
how grounded they may or may not be.
Knowing
how much we are valued by the God who created us, as Jesus reassures us today, we
are called to embrace the message of the Gospel he has entrusted to us since
our own baptism. Pope Francis reminded
us that we are “missionary disciples” sent out to change the world around
us. That may seem like a tall order and
indeed it is for us since he world is either indifferent, hostile, politely
dismissive, yet also hungry for a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.
So, as the
disciples by now had developed a closer relationship with Jesus, coming to know
him more intimately, hearing of his message and a witness to his wonder works,
so too are we reminded that we have heard the same, albeit in the Gospel
stories, but also in our personal lives.
We have
all had moments when we felt we were saved from danger, or met someone who
became a personal help in times of need, or witnessed prayer answered and
worries transformed to gratitude.
Confronted with a tough situation or a great disappointment we hung in
there and through prayer and trust we knew that God prevailed in our lives. There
were probably also moments where we recognized that we just worry too much and
trust very little.
In the
end, maybe taking to heart the promise of Jesus today to his disciples about
letting go of their worry would do us well to reflect more on our lack of faith
or may indicate to us that it is time we do something about the ungrounded
fears we carry.
The
message of the Gospel is one of joy not fear; of hope and not despair. Jesus brought “good news” and became the “light
of the world” in order to help us overcome the dark concerns we may carry.
There is
no magic in the grace of God and sometimes we are called to carry that cross
patiently as we are strengthened in faith in times of testing. But in the end our Lord reminds us as well, “do
not fear.” If we remain his loyal
disciples we have confidence that we will not be overcome.
The Eucharist
comes to us as a sign of God’s enduring love; as food for our journey in a
broken world. As Pope Francis also said,
it isn’t food for the perfect but for sinners.
Through the Church we can find healing and reconciliation, the support
of a community of other imperfect believers, and the grace necessary to walk
without a fear that would paralyze us.
Grant, O Lord,
that we may always revere and love your holy name,
for you never deprive of your guidance
those you set firm on the foundation of your love.
through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
(Collect of Mass)
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