Are you afraid of your wife? Are you afraid of your boss? Are you afraid of speaking the truth?
On this twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus continues to instruct us regarding our mission and he will carry this on next Sunday. If his message to us last Sunday was to have a compassionate heart as he sent us to proclaim God’s kingdom, he is telling us this Sunday to preach with boldness despite opposition and persecution.
In today’s Gospel (Mt 10:26-33), Jesus says, “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known” (Mt 10:26). Here, Jesus is encouraging us not to be afraid in speaking the truth. If you are hiding something in your marriage (secret relationship), in your job (confidential fund), in social media (fake news), we are instructed by Jesus to tell you that your secret will be revealed. As his disciples, we are mandated to proclaim the truth boldly and publicly. “What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops” (Mt 10:27).
To avoid the spread of truth decay, we proclaim truth in its entirety. Yes, we preach love. But we have to have truth in love (veritas in caritate): truth in marriage, truth in politics, and truth in social media. We proclaim truth because we proclaim Jesus who is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life.
Jesus knows that it is not easy to proclaim the truth. Thus, his encouraging words: “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” (Mt 10:28).
Speaking of fear, I remember this quote from the movie Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace: “Fear is the path to the dark side.” As Christ’s disciples, we fearlessly bring the Light of Faith to the dark side of fake leaders and false prophets.
We should not be afraid because God will protect us. We are valuable in the eyes of God. If God takes care and provides for little birds such as sparrows which are of little value, he will take care of us because we are his children, created in his image. “So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Mt 10:31).
We should not be afraid because Jesus will defend us when we come for judgment before the Father. “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father” (Mt 10:32-33).
When faced with persecution, be inspired by the confidence of prophet Jeremiah that we hear in the First Reading (Jer 20:10-13). Despite the plot against him, he stays the course. He expresses his unwavering faith in these words: “The LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph” (Jer 20:11).
Yes, evil will not triumph. To paraphrase what Saint Paul says in the Second Reading (Rom 5:12-15), God’s grace in Jesus Christ is greater than sin and death caused by Adam. Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more. So, let us not be pulled down by the apparent triumph of evil, social injustice, and fake news in social media. God is greater than all the problems we encounter in family, community, and society.