Jeremiah 20:10–13; Psalm 69(68); Romans 5:12–15; Matthew 10:26–33
Do Not Be Afraid!
Dear friends, today we celebrate the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). The central theme emerging from today’s Scripture readings is: “Do not be afraid.”
In the First Reading, the Prophet Jeremiah is overwhelmed by the number of people opposing his mission and plotting his downfall. Despite his fear, he turns to the Lord for protection and entrusts his fate entirely into God’s hands. In the end, he praises God for delivering him from his enemies. Are you afraid of something, someone, or a situation in your life right now?
The Psalmist also cries out to the Lord. Because of his faithfulness to God, he has attracted opposition, even from members of his own family: “I have become a stranger to my own brothers.” Yet, like Jeremiah, he ends his prayer with praise because God hears the cries of the needy. Have you ever experienced rejection, even from those closest to you, because you chose to do what is right?
In the Gospel, Jesus instructs His disciples not to fear those who can harm the body but cannot touch the soul. Rather, they should fear the One who has authority over both body and soul. Today, many people are deeply concerned about their physical safety and financial security but pay little attention to the wellbeing of their souls. Do you have insurance coverage for your soul?
The Google Online Dictionary defines fear as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” A person who is afraid or terrified may become inhibited and unable to function effectively, sometimes even losing control of his or her faculties. Human beings and animals respond to fear in different ways. These responses are commonly known as fight, flight, freeze, and fawn.
• Fight – confronting the source of fear and resisting the threat.
• Flight – running away to avoid harm.
• Freeze – becoming unable to act because the brain fails to trigger either fight or flight, thereby increasing vulnerability.
• Fawn – attempting to please or appease the source of danger in the hope of avoiding harm.
Which of these responses best describes how you react to fear?
There are many causes of fear in our daily lives. While some fears are real and life-threatening, many others are imaginary or deliberately created for particular purposes. Some leaders, including religious leaders, manipulate fear to control their followers and keep them dependent.
In our families, workplaces, schools, streets, and even places of worship, we encounter situations that make us fearful and prevent us from performing our responsibilities effectively. Some parents instil excessive fear in their children, causing them to develop various phobias later in life. Hatred, jealousy, revenge, unhealthy competition, dishonesty, greed, selfishness, and persecution are among the factors that make people fear for their lives and wellbeing.
Many people remain silent when they should speak the truth because they fear losing their jobs, positions, or social standing. Others are unable to perform their duties because they are being persecuted or subjected to false accusations. Selfishness prevents some from sharing their resources because they fear that others may surpass them. Negative competition makes people afraid of losing their status, and such fear can drive them to commit serious injustices, including destroying the reputation or even the lives of others to protect their own interests.
As Christians, however, we are called to respond to fear with hope, faith in Scripture, wisdom, courage, prayer, perseverance, silence, and love.
Jesus Himself showed His disciples how to overcome fear. At the tomb of Lazarus, He faced the ridicule of the crowd when He declared that Lazarus was only asleep. Yet He trusted completely in the Father’s power and prayed with confidence that God would hear Him (Jn 11:41).
When challenged about His ministry and authority, Jesus often responded by appealing to Scripture: “Have you not read?” (Mt 19:4). When His opponents attempted to trap Him with the question about paying taxes to Caesar, He answered with remarkable wisdom and silenced them (Mt 22:21).
Jesus frequently withdrew to lonely places to pray and seek the Father’s guidance, especially before important decisions (Mk 1:35). When a woman caught in adultery was brought before Him, Jesus remained silent for a moment, allowing tempers to cool and inviting everyone present to reflect on their own lives (Jn 8:1–11). He persevered on the road to Calvary despite His anguish and fear of suffering and death.
Finally, even while hanging on the cross, Jesus did not respond to hatred with hatred. Instead, He showed love and forgiveness, even toward those responsible for His suffering.
Does fear make you complacent, violent, hateful, or too cowardly to do what is right?
Dear friends, Jesus teaches us that the only One we should truly fear is God. This fear is not based on terror or the expectation of punishment. Rather, it arises from love and reverence. We fear offending God because we do not want to betray the One who loves us so deeply.
Jesus shows us that fear is a reality we cannot completely avoid. Yet, as Christians, we have the spiritual tools needed to confront fear and continue living fruitful and faithful lives in every circumstance.
Have a fearless Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 