Sunday June 21st 2020: Read Br Michael’s Gospel Reflection The Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Do not be afraid
Of what are you afraid? What fills you with anxiety and fear? Some people are afraid of spiders, others are afraid of dogs, and so much more. As a child, I was so afraid of the dark. Looking back now, it was not so much the dark itself, it was what I thought and imagined was in the dark. Eventually, one night I went into a darkened room and stood there – nothing happened; there was nothing and no one in the dark. My fear of the dark had become worse than the dark itself!
In the first line of today’s gospel Jesus clearly says to his followers and indeed to each of us today, ‘Do not be afraid. Everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear.’ Contrary to what we might believe, the apostles were not always brave, courageous or strong. Frequently, Jesus had to encourage and strengthen them, just as he does in today’s gospel. In fact he reminds them not to be afraid no less than three times. For some reason it is unknown why they needed this affirmation and reassurance.
These last few months for all of us at a personal, local, national and global level have been filled with worry, anxiety and fear as we have witnessed the Corona virus spread, seemingly out of control. We have perhaps experienced firsthand the impact of the virus. It is only natural that we are afraid. Perhaps, now more than ever, just like the apostles, we too need the encouraging and affirming words of Jesus. Today, can we take just a few minutes of prayerful silence to hear these words from Jesus, ‘Do not be afraid… there is no need to be afraid, you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.’
After the Our Father is said at mass, the following line is prayed as part of a longer prayer, ‘as we wait the blessed hope and coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.’ Before this prayer was changed it read, ‘as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.’ As Christians we are called to live and wait in joyful hope. Certainly these days while many of us remain at home separated and isolated, we are waiting hopefully. Christian hope is not like ordinary hope. It is not like the hope we experience while waiting for a bus or watching our team play in the hope that they will win! Christian hope is much deeper; it calls for faith in God. These days we are putting our faith and hope in each other, doctors, nurses and medical staff and in our politicians who daily are making crucial decisions that have an impact on all of us. In prayer we are also reminded to put our faith and hope in God. As scripture reminds, ‘we have placed our hope in the living God, who is our Saviour.’ (1. Tim. 4.10).
These are difficult and demanding days for all of us. Much of what we have taken for granted has been taken from us. Many more are suffering the pain and bereavement because members of their families, friends or neighbours have died. At time likes this, it is only natural to feel anxious and fearful. These are uncertain times for all of us. This is why the words of Jesus in today’s gospels could not be more appropriate for all us; ‘Do not be afraid… there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.’
– Br Michael Moore OMI
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Gospel for Sunday June 21st |
Matt 10:26-33 © |
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Jesus forewarns his disciples to be prepared for trials and suffering
Jesus said to his disciples, “Have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”
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