Homily for 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A (Cancelling Your Fears)

COMMENTARIES FROM THE HEART (By Fr. Anthony Agnes)

12^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A (25.06.2023)

First Reading: Jeremiah 20:10-13

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68(69):8-10,14,17,33-35

Second Reading: Romans 5:12-15

Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33

Theme: “Cancelling Your Fears”

Do you feel like the Prophet Jeremiah in our first reading: “I hear so many disparaging me, ‘“Terror from every side!” Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ All those who used to be my friends watched for my downfall””? What a sad way to begin a message. This can happen to all of us. He was a prophet, a man of God, and yet his beginning was sad. The beauty of the reading is that it does not end with the fears of Jeremiah. Jeremiah ends by saying, “But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero”.  That is the game changer; the presence of God makes all the difference. When the mighty hero (the champion) is by your side in any difficult situation, you shall also be a hero, a champion. Your beginning does not matter, God will change your story.

“Do not be afraid”. These are the beautiful words of Jesus in our Gospel reading. They are encouraging and re-assuring words for anyone who is afraid in life. We all have our fears and worries: the food to eat, the jobs we need, the difficult relationships, our children’s future, our finances and investments, our health, our pension schemes, etc. When we think about these worries we sometimes become afraid because we do not know how and where to get the answers. Today, Jesus gives us the solution, the key to unlock all our fears: “Do not be afraid”. Three times in the Gospel he assured us: “Do not be afraid. For everything that is now covered…”, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body…”, “So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth…”. By repeating “Do not be afraid”, Jesus wants you to know that you are covered, you are secured for life. Interestingly but also providentially, the phrase “Do not be afraid” appears 365 times in the entire Bible; 365 times God reminds us that He has already taken care of our fears for each day of the year. This is how much God cares for you, even before you encounter any fear, He has already provided the solution. God has insured your fears for all the 365 days of the year. You have no need to worry about tomorrow.

Again, in the Gospel we heard the cautioning words: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul”. What Jesus is telling us is, “fear no one”. Some people have “some-mighty” gods. These are people who can make you lose your job, deny you a promotion at your office, curse you, frustrate you, make you look like a failure, etc. All they can do is to affect some aspect of your life, they are only “some-mighty” gods. Today, Jesus is saying do not fear these “some-mighty” gods, these “some-mighty” people because He, our God, is an “Almighty God”. He is not like the “some-mighty” gods who can solve only some problems in your life. He is the Almighty God who takes care of every situation in life. We are to fear, that is, trust and totally submit ourselves only to the “Almighty God” who can destroy both body and soul in hell. The next time you face some difficult situation in life, the next time you feel like giving up, the next time you feel there is no help coming, remember that our God, your God, is the “Almighty God”; everything is under his control. He cares for the birds of the air, but cares even more for you and your family. He has time to count the hairs on your head and so he will have time for your needs.

Praise be Jesus Christ!

My Prayer: Father in heaven, in difficult moments when I am tempted to give up remind me that you are the Almighty God. Give me this grace I pray. In Jesus name. Amen!

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