Sunday Gospel Reflection
"Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell"
Introduction:
"All through my childhood I used to hear old soldiers of the First World War speak of the endless horrors of a battle in which the whole genius of the strategist seemed to consist in filling the shell holes with living soldiers until the enemy had run out of ammunition. They told how, thanks to a wound or a period of leave, they would go back for a few days or weeks 'to the rear,' and how what they saw there - acts of cowardice, petty betrayals, a dubious sense of well-being - helped them to return, if not without fear, at any rate without regret, to the fire-scorched fraternity of the front line." (From Be Not Afraid-Pope John Paul II)
To be a participant in the fire-scorched fraternity of Christ's front line can also be a fearful experience, but fear need not be debilitating. "Fear not" and "Be not afraid" are recurring messages sent from heaven, so God must know how easy it is for us to look and to live on the dark side of life, anticipating the difficulties of spiritual warfare. Since we are social creatures, desiring friendly relationships and support of others, we are greatly influenced by those around us. Our Christian beliefs and behavior can be disliked by others, though in and of themselves they should not be offensive, and can cause people to withhold their friendship and support from us. The intensity of some people's opposition can spark fear in our heart, especially when we realize that it can actually result in social, economic and physical harm. We should not give over control of our lives to others by failing to express our belief and live as a Christian should, out of fear of what they may think.
Being a follower of Jesus calls us to be counter-cultural. It requires us to live and communi-cate values that the world does not understand, or appreciate, and which it sometimes resists with hostility. It is hard for us who love Jesus to except the fact that many in the world reject Jesus, his values, his character and his message. However, it should not be surprising that we who are his body, should be confronted with similar hostility when we allow Jesus to live in and through us. The days leading up to the crucifixion were threatening and fearful for Jesus. After the crucifixion they were also threatening and abusive for his followers. Many were even killed. This is what Pope John Paul II meant when he talked of living on the frontline of the spiritual battle.
But fear need not be debilitating for us, and residing on the frontline is preferable to the meaningless self-centered existence of sitting out the battle behind the lines. The person who resides in us, Jesus the Son of God, can give us the perspective we need to face and conquer fear, if we listen to him and stop listening to our fears. In addition, Jesus can provide the power to change and overcome threatening situations because he has overcome the world. The following passage is helpful as we serve on the front line for Christ. We should memorize it so that the Holy Spirit can bring it to the forefront of our mind when needed. ". . . fear not, for I am with you, be not dis-mayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
First Reading
Jeremiah 20:10-13
10 For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side!
"Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" say all my familiar friends, watching for
my fall. "Perhaps he will be deceived, then we can overcome him, and take our revenge
on him."
11 But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my
persecutors will stumble, they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they
will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.
12 O LORD of hosts, who triest the righteous, who seest the
heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my
cause.
13 Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the
life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
Second Reading
Romans 5:12-15
12 Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and
death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned-
13 sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but
sin is not counted where there is no law.
14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose
sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many
died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the
grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 10:26-33
26 "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be
revealed, nor secret that will not be known.
27 What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what
you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot
kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of
them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.
30 Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will
acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
33 But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my
heavenly Father.
Bible Study
26 "Fear no one.
-----The ministry of preaching is
intrinsically frightening. Only faith in a revealing and judging God can overcome that
fear.
26b Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor
secret that will not be known.
27 What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what
you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot
kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
-----Gehenna is the term which Jesus
uses to refer to the place of eternal destruction. It is also the valley which runs along
the southern edge of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. The Hebrew word ge-hinnom means
"valley of the son of Hinnom." The name is probably that of the original
Jebusite owner of the property. It became a cultic shrine where human sacrifice was
offered (2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31; 19:2ff; 32:35). Because of
this cult Jeremiah cursed the place and predicted that it would be a place of death and
corruption.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one
of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.
------The cheapest life in the market is
cited; yet God's providential care extends to it. God knows even when a small bird dies,
He is aware of the death of one of His own and He will save the life that endures forever.
30 Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
-----A rabbinic argument technique which
compares a light matter to a heavy one. It is used here to overcome fear and encourage the
disciples to trust God.
32 Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will
acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
33 But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my
heavenly Father.
------With the assurance of
confidence that God knows and cares what happens, the disciples are urged to confess
"in Jesus." The confession would be the typical confession of the primitive
Church that "Jesus is Messiah and Lord." The reward of confession or denial is
that Jesus will accept or disown according to one's fidelity.
Meditation
Fear is a powerful force. It can lead us to panic and flight or it can spur us to faith and action. The fear of God is the antidote to the fear of losing one's life. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.O fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want! Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 34:4,9,11) What is godly fear? It is reverence for the One who made us in love and who sustains us in mercy and kindness. The greatest injury or loss which we can experience is not physical but spiritual -- the loss of one's soul to the power of hell. A healthy fear of God leads to spiritual maturity, wisdom and right judgment and it frees us from the tyranny of sinful pride, cowardice -- especially in the face of evil, and spiritual deception.
When Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God he met opposition and hostility. He tells his disciples that they must expect the same treatment if they are to live and to proclaim the reign of God. There is both a warning and a privilege in his statement. Just as Jesus had to carry his cross, so the disciples must carry their cross and not try to evade it. To suffer for the faith is to share in the work of Christ. As one hymn states: Lift high the Cross of Christ! Tread where his feet have trod. The Holy Spirit gives us power and grace to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Reflections:
· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you.
· "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be
revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in
the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. (Matthew 10:26-27)
-----Examine yourfears. What are they? What do
you have to hide, and from whom?
-----What is the worst possible case when
everyone knows your bad secrets?
. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in
Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the
ground without your Father's knowledge. (Matthew 10:28-29)
-----What perspective does Jesus provide for
overcoming fear's control of us?
. 28 And do not be afraid ... 31 So do not be
afraid;...
------Ask Jesus to explain what he means to me
when he repeatedly says "do not be afraid."
. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will
acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny
before my heavenly Father. (Matthew 10:32-33)
----Do you trust in God's grace and mercy and
submit to his word?
----Do you trust in God's grace to carry your
cross for Jesus' sake?
. What lessons have you learned over the years, about how to acknowledge Jesus before others?
To live His Word this week:
· Spend some extra time to contemplate about Jesus' message.
For Youngsters:
. Open the missalette and read along during the Mass..
Prayer
Lord, it is my joy and privilege to be your disciple. Give me strength and courage to bear any hardship and suffering which may come my way in your service. May I witness to others the joy of the gospel.