Fr Joe has written this short reflection on the Gospel passage for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Jesus in today’s Gospel encourages us three times not to be afraid. To be afraid of our persecutors in one sense is normal but it is for a follower of Christ a false fear. Our persecutors can impose suffering upon us and can negatively affect us through calumny and detraction. Death is even a possibility. Their power is temporal but has no effect on our eternal soul. The martyrs are testament to that.
The devil can deceive and tempt our souls to sin and even lose sight of God. He is a master of disguise and presents good as evil and evil as good and can lead us along the path that can destroy our souls eternally. However, God is our Father and will give us the graces to see through his plans and offer us the graces that point us towards his eternal Kingdom.
Now is the time to uncover what had been covered and to proclaim publicly what was previously hidden and whispered. This is a rallying call by Christ to be unashamedly Christian and to share His Gospel truths and values with authority and conviction. The world needs to know the Saviour’s message and we must be the proud voices that counteract the false hopes that offer nothing but empty and vain promises. The promise from Christ for our fidelity to Him is that He will be our Advocate before the Father and therefore our assurance of life eternal.
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