Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33
Do Not Be Afraid.
1. The early American Indians had a unique practice of training young braves. On the night of a boy’s thirteenth birthday, after learning hunting, scouting and fishing skills, he was put to one final test. He was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until then, he had never been away from the security of the family and tribe. But on this night, he was blindfolded and taken several miles away. When he took off the blindfold, he was in the middle of thick woods, and he was terrified. Every time a twig snapped, he visualized a wild animal ready to pounce on him. After what seemed like an eternity, dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest. Looking around, he saw flowers, trees, and the outline of a path. Then, to his astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with bow and arrow. It was his father. He had been there all night long. I use this story from the Book, “Kindle Your Spirit” by Fr. John Pichappilly to demonstrate the role of fathers in our lives. Today we think of our fathers, as we celebrate Fathers’ day. Our fathers have been there for us, protecting and supporting us in all our endeavors. We thank and appreciate them. We pray for those who have passed on to the Lord, that they may receive their reward from God. For our sick fathers, we pray for their healing and for those in jail, we pray for their freedom and release. Happy Fathers’ day!
2. In the Gospel reading of today from Matthew 10, Jesus addressed his apostles and told them not to be afraid. The chapter begins with these words: “Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirit to drive them out and to cure every diseases and illness.” Jesus commissioned and sent them out as missionaries to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This reminds me of my commissioning on June 22, 1991. I completed my pastoral year in Maiduguri diocese in Northern Nigeria, having been ordained on June 23rd the previous year. We were called to the podium after Mass, and the late Cardinal Ekandem, like Jesus, got up and addressed us as we were being sent on Mission to the different parts of the world. I was assigned to work in the Gambia. Missionary work can be intimidating indeed. It causes one to be afraid, especially of the unknown. Jesus warned his apostles that they would face persecution, rejection, and even betrayal from family members. He stressed that they will be treated in the same way as he, the master was treated. For “A disciple is not above the teacher” (10:24). He exhorts them however, not to be afraid but to put their trust in God, who takes care of even the sparrows, and knows the number of the hair on our heads. He asked them, “Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even the hairs of your head are counted. So, do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” He urged them to only be afraid of God. Earthly elements and human beings may kill us, but they have no power over our souls. Therefore, we should only be afraid of being separated from God. Christians should be afraid of being unfaithful to God through sin. Hence, we should approach God with awe, respect and reverence. Because “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18).
3. Though we are not to be afraid, we know that being a Christian does not mean we will not encounter difficulties. Christ did not make such assumptions. He said rather: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so, be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.” (Matt.10:16-18). The first reading presents us with Jeremiah who experienced a lot of hardships in his preaching ministry. He was rejected, persecuted and made a laughingstock by those he loved and cared for. Jeremiah warned God’s people that they could avoid destruction that was on its way if they lived according to God’s laws. But they did not care much about Jeremiah’s warning, instead they plotted to kill him. He was intimidated and persecuted so badly that Jeremiah did not want to preach any more. In the verse before our reading today, he said, “I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.” (Jer. 20:9). Yet Jeremiah was vindicated and rejoiced: “Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.” God will always take care of his own.
4. Preachers encounter difficulties because people do not want to be told what to do. “And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” (John 3:19-21). This is why we gossip, because we are cowards. Bad things are, most of the time, done in the covers of darkness. Heinous crimes are committed in the dark. Those who abuse their wives or children, gamblers or drunkards, drug barons, addicts or prostitutes, embezzlers and cheaters, would not want people to know their secret lives. They prefer deeds of darkness to the light. If people should talk about their way of life, they become enemies, that must be destroyed, like Jeremiah in today’s reading.
5. Therefore St. Paul tells us in the second reading, “If by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man, Jesus Christ overflow for the many.” Jesus has redeemed us with his precious blood and has given us the power to conquer our fears, even the fear of death. He says, “Behold, I have given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.” (Lk. 10:19). Therefore, we should not be afraid. Let us pray that the holy Spirit may shine its light on our hearts and expose the darkness therein to Christ who loves us with an everlasting love. Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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