Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33
Jesus said to the Twelve: "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. 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. Even all the hairs of your head
are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
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."
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Reflection:
Jesus told the apostles as He sends them off to spread the gospel: ““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. 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” (Matthew 10:26-28)
This call of Jesus to not be afraid is very timely for us today because
many of us are so afraid of getting sick of Covid-19. But why be afraid if
Jesus is with us? We have nothing to fear if the Lord is with us we simply have
to be careful and we leave everything to Jesus.
It’s so easy to say that we are followers of Jesus but it’s another story
when we are called to witness for the Lord no matter what it may cost us. Why?
Because our witness for the Lord often times have limitations. We witness for
the Lord when it’s comfortable for us to do so. Or when it favors us but when
it’s not comfortable and it doesn’t favor us we hide to secure ourselves.
True followers would find courage to conquer their fears. And this
courage they would only find if they have a strong and personal relationship with
the Lord. We are therefore called to continue our witness for the Lord in the
midst of this Covid-19 pandemic. Not to continue carelessly but to continue in
a calculated and careful manner.
The enemy is unseen, powerful and can kill us anytime. Believe it
not, this Covid-19 pandemic is obviously
an instrument of satan to sow fear within us and to make us afraid to live and
share the gospel. But we will forge on because the Lord is telling us not to be
afraid.
Majority of the apostles were the perfect witness for Christ, they feared
no one they followed Him championing His teachings until their very last gasp
of breath. The Martyrs of the church did the same they shed their blood for the
mission of Jesus. They spoke the truth, they were not afraid to die for their
love of Jesus and His mission.
This is also the clarion call for us let us not be afraid to continue
creatively sharing the gospel of the Lord using social media. Let us conquer
our fear of this Covid-19 pandemic and continue to live our faith for the Lord
is always with us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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