Reflection for October 29 Thursday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:31-35

Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’  

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

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Reflection: 

What if Jesus had allowed fear to overcome Him and prevent Him from fulfilling His mission?

How would our lives be different today if He had not courageously embraced the cross for our salvation? Through His unwavering love for us and His obedience to the Father, Jesus faced suffering and death and accomplished the mission entrusted to Him.

What can we learn from this courageous act of Jesus?

We, too, are called to face our fears. Many of us hesitate to evangelize because we are afraid that no one will listen to us, that we might be rejected or ridiculed, or that we might face difficulties along the way. Sometimes, we allow these fears to grow in our hearts until they prevent us from doing what God calls us to do. We become silent when we should speak about His love, and we hold back when we should be sharing the Good News.

But what happens when we surrender our fears to Jesus and allow our faith in Him to become stronger than our doubts? We begin to realize that we do not have to be perfect, eloquent, or fearless to become His instruments. We simply need to be willing to trust Him and take the first step. When we stop allowing fear to control our decisions, we become more courageous and effective missioners for Christ Jesus.

The key to becoming effective missionaries for Christ is to overcome our fears through faith. However, as human beings, we sometimes succumb to fear, especially when we face rejection, criticism, or even danger. There may be moments when we are tempted to remain silent about our faith because we do not want to offend anyone or suffer the consequences of speaking the truth. Yet, if we allow fear to silence us, how can we share the Good News that Jesus entrusted to us? How can others come to know His love if we are unwilling to become witnesses to it?

Imagine what might have happened if Jesus, the apostles, and the saints had allowed fear to conquer them. The faith we profess and share today might not have reached us in the same way. We owe so much to the courage of Jesus and to the faithful witness of those who followed Him, even when doing so meant facing persecution, suffering, and death. Their example reminds us that our faith is a precious gift that we are called not only to receive but also to share with others.

Let us, therefore, emulate Christ. Let us not allow fear to paralyze us or the obstacles before us to weaken our faith. Instead, let us face these challenges with hearts firmly anchored in Jesus. We may not always know what to say or how others will respond, but we can trust that God can work through our sincere words, humble actions, and loving example.

 Let us courageously live out our baptismal mission to evangelize. We do not need to wait for the perfect moment, nor do we need to possess extraordinary talents before we can serve the Lord. We can begin right where we are: in our homes, workplaces, communities, and relationships. Every act of kindness, every word of encouragement, every expression of forgiveness, and every courageous testimony to the truth can become an opportunity to lead others closer to Jesus.

Above all, let us remember that we do not carry out this mission alone. Jesus, who called us to follow Him, remains with us as we proclaim His Good News. When fear troubles our hearts, let us turn to Him in prayer. When we feel weak, let us draw strength from Him. And when the road becomes difficult, let us remember that our mission is not about our own glory but about making His love known to the world.

If Jesus courageously embraced the cross out of love for us, are we willing to overcome our fears, stand firm in our faith, and become courageous witnesses of His love so that, through us, others may come to know Him?—Marino J. Dasmarinas