Fr. Paulin Shadari sx
Reflection for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33
Today, Christ invites us to cast out fear from our lives. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us three times not to be afraid: “Do not be afraid of people...,” “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body...,” and “Have no fear.” Even today, it is not always easy to live our Christian values fully in society, at work, or among the people around us. Sometimes we are afraid to witness to our faith, especially when we are in environments where Christians are a minority or where our beliefs are misunderstood. The Lord calls us to have the courage of faith. He invites us to affirm our Christian identity through our words and actions, without fear or shame, remaining faithful to the Gospel whatever the circumstances may be.
Let us take a moment to look at the social situation of our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone today. Are we able to speak out against the poverty in which so many people are living? It often seems that nothing is going well. Many families can no longer afford even a bag of rice because of their low income. Yet some people hold economic power and deny others the conditions necessary for a dignified and happy life.
Faced with this human tragedy, what do we do as Christians? Do we simply celebrate the Eucharist while ignoring the misery and suffering of those around us? Does our faith not also call us to solidarity, justice, and sharing with those most in need?
And yet the Lord says to us: “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops” (Mt 10:27). Is this not a call not to remain silent before those who want to suppress and remove the public expression of faith in Jesus Christ from social life?
The prophet Jeremiah reminds us today that true faith requires courage. In the face of injustice, evil, and false accusations, Christians must neither give in to fear nor be discouraged. We are called to remain faithful to the truth and to place our trust in God, who protects the weak, supports the persecuted, and frees those who suffer under oppression.
It is this courage of faith that moves us to commit ourselves as Christians in a world that is often hostile to Christian values. Our commitment to faith encourages us to promote peace and justice in a world marked by violence and the exploitation of the weak. Certainly, this commitment involves great risks, but the Lord reassures us: “Do not be afraid of people... do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul... therefore do not be afraid.”
The courage of faith also invites us not to fear difficulties, conflicts, contradictions, or misunderstandings in life. Christ says to us today: “Even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Mt 10:30-31). If God takes such care of nature, how much more precious are we in His eyes! This certainty that we are loved and protected by God gives us the strength to move forward without anxiety, even though the storms of life.
What matters most is that we take a stand for the Lord. This means not being afraid to stand openly for what is just, true, and good. Even though the world seems to be turning further and further away from God, we must not be afraid to declare ourselves “for Jesus Christ before others.”
May we be courageous enough to follow Jesus Christ both in moments of joy and in the storms of life. Amen
Reflection for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33
Today, Christ invites us to cast out fear from our lives. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us three times not to be afraid: “Do not be afraid of people...,” “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body...,” and “Have no fear.” Even today, it is not always easy to live our Christian values fully in society, at work, or among the people around us. Sometimes we are afraid to witness to our faith, especially when we are in environments where Christians are a minority or where our beliefs are misunderstood. The Lord calls us to have the courage of faith. He invites us to affirm our Christian identity through our words and actions, without fear or shame, remaining faithful to the Gospel whatever the circumstances may be.
Let us take a moment to look at the social situation of our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone today. Are we able to speak out against the poverty in which so many people are living? It often seems that nothing is going well. Many families can no longer afford even a bag of rice because of their low income. Yet some people hold economic power and deny others the conditions necessary for a dignified and happy life.
Faced with this human tragedy, what do we do as Christians? Do we simply celebrate the Eucharist while ignoring the misery and suffering of those around us? Does our faith not also call us to solidarity, justice, and sharing with those most in need?
And yet the Lord says to us: “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops” (Mt 10:27). Is this not a call not to remain silent before those who want to suppress and remove the public expression of faith in Jesus Christ from social life?
The prophet Jeremiah reminds us today that true faith requires courage. In the face of injustice, evil, and false accusations, Christians must neither give in to fear nor be discouraged. We are called to remain faithful to the truth and to place our trust in God, who protects the weak, supports the persecuted, and frees those who suffer under oppression.
It is this courage of faith that moves us to commit ourselves as Christians in a world that is often hostile to Christian values. Our commitment to faith encourages us to promote peace and justice in a world marked by violence and the exploitation of the weak. Certainly, this commitment involves great risks, but the Lord reassures us: “Do not be afraid of people... do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul... therefore do not be afraid.”
The courage of faith also invites us not to fear difficulties, conflicts, contradictions, or misunderstandings in life. Christ says to us today: “Even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Mt 10:30-31). If God takes such care of nature, how much more precious are we in His eyes! This certainty that we are loved and protected by God gives us the strength to move forward without anxiety, even though the storms of life.
What matters most is that we take a stand for the Lord. This means not being afraid to stand openly for what is just, true, and good. Even though the world seems to be turning further and further away from God, we must not be afraid to declare ourselves “for Jesus Christ before others.”
May we be courageous enough to follow Jesus Christ both in moments of joy and in the storms of life. Amen