Do not be afraid

The liturgical season of Ordinary Time has returned. One can still perceive the echoes of the solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity and the Body & Blood of Christ in that we, as living missionary disciples, are grafted in the life of the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. It is in this love that we live in the Spirit of truth with abundant courage. The 12th and 13th Sundays in Ordinary Time clearly show a depth of discipleship as we closely follow our Lord, Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit through trials, tribulations and triumphs as he reminds us, “Do not be afraid” (Mt 10:31).

Trials (Jer 20:10-13)

We hear the testimony of the prophet Jeremiah as he faces persecution from those whom God called him to serve. He hears the “whispers” of a planned entrapment to stop his preaching. Why do they want to silence Jeremiah’s preaching? Called by God, there rises from the depths of Jeremiah the mission to proclaim the truth: the king, the people and all of Judah are called to repent, to put aside sinful lives and turn back to God with their entire being. Otherwise they will face the consequences of their ungodly ways.

Yet they did not want to hear this since they could not see with their hearts the error of their ways. So, God, who is goodness, kindness, and mercy, sends Jeremiah to warn the leaders together with the people. Their response: rejection, ignorance, mockery and revenge. Their attempts to silence Jeremiah are met with unwavering faith in God.

He recalls, “The Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble” (Jer 20:13). Jeremiah is assured, as we are, that God will never abandon us during our trials. And not only that but also God is triumphant.

Fortification in the trials

Jesus is the fullness of truth, the message of the prophets, to return to God. We are called to be missionary disciples and heroically respond to the call received in baptism; to be a prophet, a living witness of truth. Through prayer, words and deeds, we are sent to proclaim the truth in Jesus Christ, even while facing persecution. We are called forth away from our comfort zone, even if we think we are not equipped. We are not alone. Rather, as St. John writes, “The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord; and you also will testify” (Jn 15:26-27).

By grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit we are fortified and thus able to move with a responsiveness of truth by the gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, piety and fear (amazement) of the Lord which help us proclaim the truth with humility, confidence and peace.

Ultimately, these gifts bear fruit. Paragraph 1832 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the church lists 12 of them: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.”

Calling upon the Spirit of truth, we acknowledge we rely solely upon the Holy Spirit in our role as prophet. “The holy people of God share also in Christ’s prophetic office,” above all in the supernatural sense of faith that belongs to the whole people, lay and clergy, when it “unfailingly adheres to this faith . . . once for all delivered to the saints, and when it deepens its understanding and becomes Christ’s witness in the midst of this world” (Catechism para. 735).

Tribulations with hope (Mt 10:26-33)

“Jesus said to the Twelve Apostles: ‘Fear no one’ ” (Mt 10:26). Fear paralyzes, courage energizes. St. John Paul II during the opening homily of his pontificate said, “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Be not afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.”

By the Holy Spirit, one is able to courageously witness to the living word of God, by faith, worship, catechesis and mission. Prayer. Word. Deed. Sent. Thus, as disciples we confidently center our life on Jesus Christ and fearlessly open the doors of Christ to all.

St. Teresa of Calcutta thanked the Lord for the good days and to remind her of the good days when she faced days of persecution.  Her confident and consistent prayer provided hope amidst the trials. Her faith brought her to her knees, spending hours in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and offering her struggles to Jesus on the cross.  Am I confident that God will lead me through the trials? Faith, hope, love and courage are vital. Fear paralyzes, faith mobilizes! “Do not be afraid.”

We need more laborers (Mt 9:36 – 10:8)

With mobilization comes discipleship. St. Matthew writes, “Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them (the crowd) because they were troubled and abandoned” (Mt. 9:36). Jesus gathered the Twelve Apostles, gave them “authority” and, thus, confidence, to help the troubled and abandoned, the possessed and the infirmed, by casting out evil and curing every disease.  They were laborers. They also knew they could only accomplish such a mission with Jesus and later, on Pentecost, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Circumstances for discipleship extend beyond the reason of the world.  At times, we have no clue what God will ask us to do next. But what we are certain of is that Jesus has shown us the path and has left us the Holy Spirit to help us with the “heavy lifting.” We are never alone. We just need to show up and bring with us more laborers to the harvest. Let us ask for the grace to be disciples, in trials, tribulations and triumphs. Let us not be afraid. Amen.

Dow is the Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.