Picture from Alexas Fotos on Pexels, linked below

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.”

This reflection is inspired by Fr. Mike Schmitz. His video will be linked below. 

We are told to “fear no one”. We are not told to fear anyone because we will be safe. Quite the opposite. We must fear no one especially when safety is stripped away from us. 

Let’s talk about our preoccupation with being safe. With the political climate and global pandemic, it is easy to become obsessed with being safe. So much energy has been spent on being safe. The problem that arises when we become obsessed with being safe is not that we just avoid danger but we also avoid being dangerous. If you aren’t a parent, try to step into the shoes of your own. Your parents want you to be safe. If you are a parent or become a parent one day, you will do everything in your power to keep your children safe. However, keeping your kids too safe can make them powerless. We must educate and form our children into adults who are courageous. We hear about being courageous in 2 Timothy:  “for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7 RSVCE). 

We have a mission. We have a role. Being too nice and harmless can be harmful to the mission we are called to in this life. Christians are hated and persecuted. But, nevertheless, we must keep pushing. We must not stop. Jesus was hated by many but that did not stop Him and it must not stop us also. 

You might be accused of division and hate for what you believe. Even amongst your own friends and family. You cannot afford to be safe. You must be willing and able to push back. You must risk being unliked and mocked and willing to learn from those experiences. 

The world doesn’t need safe Christians. The world needs Christians who are willing to push back. If we are defiant, we must be defiant for the sake of others and not ourselves. This is not an excuse for us to unleash our emotions and anger in the world. We must be refined. We cannot be too agreeable but we also cannot be too disagreeable. 

Your choices and actions matter. You are seen by God. You matter to God. When God matters more than anyone and anything, you have no reason to fear. 

Prayer For Strength and Courage

Life seems full of stresses Lord

My busy home, my harried work

Sometimes I fear for myself

Torn between one tension and another

I lose my nerve and feel the need to get away

Enfold me Lord

Shield me from the frailty of my spirit

Protect me from my own powerless will

Free me from all anxieties and doubts

Give me the vigor to push on

And continue with the mission

You have chosen me to task

Help me remember Lord

That You are there beside me

And if I fall at times

Be there to carry me.

Amen.

Bible Inspiration: Deuteronomy 31:8

“It is the Lord who marches before you; he will be with you and will never fail you”

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnAcDMfT7yM&t=1853s

Photo Link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-lion-s-head-2220336/