FEAR is part of our daily life. We are afraid of the dark and some are afraid of the light. We are afraid of people and some have phobias of animals. There are healthy fears, as well as unhealthy fears. Fear is good when it signals our natural instincts for survival. People in the primitive age had two responses to fear: Fight or Flight.
In today’s modern era with its state-of-the-art technologies and sophisticated sciences, man’s anxieties and fears are not reduced but are even multiplied. We have no predators to fear but instead we tremble at electric, water and rental bills. There is no dinosaur to avoid, but we are cautious of dangerous mosquito bites. We no longer fear thunder but instead we fear the lightning of cell phone charges. Man generates his own fear.
Some say that the phrase “DO NOT BE AFRAID” is mentioned 365 times in the Bible. Remember that there are 365 days in a year, too. Perhaps God wants to tell us every single day – “Do not be afraid.” In a world surrounded by fearsome prospects and in an existence enveloped in myriads of reasons to tremble, God’s word cones to ensure us that FEAR has no power to destroy God’s children.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus expresses his deep desire to unload from us our anxieties by inviting us to be simple and honest. “So have no fear of them: for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell it in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather fear him who can destroy the soul and body in hell.”
What are we afraid of? Isn’t it that we are mostly afraid of the things we have created ourselves... our words, actions, thoughts or possessions we have indiscriminately piled up? “Do not be afraid of them!” Listen to Jesus’ soothing and assuring words. He has come to liberate us from our fears. But we must be willing to expose ourselves to the Lord so that his love and his peace can take over and replace the fear in our hearts. We must be ready to expose to the Lord the secret of our minds and hearts so that in receiving his light, our dark fear will vanish. Jesus himself shows us how to live victorious and free. He was not afraid of those who threatened his life.
His concern was to follow in faithfulness the will of his Father. His only desire was to give every thing He had for the sake of the people He came to serve. He was totally open before his Father. Jesus lived in confidence and courage because He was always true to Himself. He was always transparent to his Father who alone knew everything about Him. Let us pray that in our lives we may discover the strength of being honest and true, and in this way be free from our FEARS. So be it!
Who is a Christian Steward? For Disciples of Christ – everyone who responds to Christ’s invitation, “Come, and follow me” – Christian stewardship is an obligation, not an option. Correctly and fully understood, Christian stewardship holds every individual accountable to God for personal care of the universe. At the time of judgment, God will have the right ask us: “What did you do with my world?”
In this last week of June, we celebrate two important days; on the 26th, we have the memorial of St. Irenaeus and on the 29th the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul. Then on July 1st, we have our First Saturday Mass at 9AM and the Patriotic Rosary to be said before the Mass. This is all for now, watch for the next bulletin.
Your Priest
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Servant and Parochial Administrator,
Fr. Reggie