Gospel Reflection: Saturday – 14th Week in Ordinary Time

July 11, 2020

One of the many tangible emotions we have is fear. It is an apprehension of an impending threat or danger to our lives or maybe the lives of people whom we love. Sometimes the intensity of fear depends on the degree of probability of pain or suffering it may incur to anyone. Since our basic instinct is survival, then, the greatest fear for everyone is the fear of death. It is a basic push in our daily lives that we have to live and to possibly evade all possibilities that our lives may be threatened or put in danger. This is the reason why we value peace, comfort, flourishing, harmony because these values contribute to our survival and well-being.

Our Gospel reading today invites us to look into and examine our fears. What are we afraid of in our lives?

Jesus continues to instruct his disciples about the possible outcomes of their mission. He wants them to be clarified about the possible consequences of following him. That being united with Him, the disciples can always experience rejection and persecution because “no disciple is greater than the master”. If the master is persecuted how much more for his followers? Jesus knows that with the impending threat of persecution, the disciples have a lot to fear. That is why Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid”. The disciples need to continue the mission of proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom even though they could experience pain and suffering. Jesus assures them of the privilege of being called by God. Jesus has to tell them that they are worth more than the sparrows and that even the hairs of their head are never forgotten. They have a special place in the Kingdom. Jesus is simply telling the disciples that they need to overcome their fear of pain and suffering because, suffering, if done for the sake of the Gospel is salvific.

It is clear to us Christians that the way of Jesus is the cross. The cross is the symbol that a Christian has embraced because of the sacrament of baptism. Thus, the Christian who is a follower of Christ should know that part and parcel of the Christian life is suffering because it is the way of Jesus in bringing salvation to the world.

Living our Christian life today is very challenging because the worldly values are growing far from the values of the Gospel. While Jesus teaches us courage amid persecution and pain, the world teaches us to get rid of it. While Jesus teaches us the value that suffering that once transcended becomes a sacrifice, the world sees it as inhuman and barbaric.

We need to be more courageous today if we are to heed the instruction of Jesus. Do not be afraid! Let us proclaim our faith. Let us advertise Jesus! “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but not the soul; rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both the body and the soul.”

What are your fears as a Christian?

(Rev. Fr. Urbano Pardillo, DCD; Director, St John Paul II Seminary in Kibanban, Digos City)