TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME-YEAR A

Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33

Theme: “Do Not Be Afraid”

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,Today, the Word of God speaks to one of the deepest realities of the human heart: fear.Fear is something that touches every person. We fear failure, rejection, sickness, loneliness,suffering, the loss of loved ones, financial difficulties, and uncertainty about the future. Manypeople carry fears that nobody knows about. Behind smiling faces there are worried hearts;behind strong appearances there are silent struggles.It is into these fears that Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel:

“Do not be afraid.”

Jesus repeats these words several times because He knows our hearts. He knows our worries, ouranxieties, and the burdens we carry. But the question is: Why does Jesus tell us not to be afraid? To answer that question, today’s readings invite us to look first at the prophet Jeremiah. In the first reading, Jeremiah is suffering. He is mocked, rejected, criticized, and even his friends are waiting for his downfall. Humanly speaking, Jeremiah has every reason to be afraid and discouraged. Yet Jeremiah does not end in despair. Instead, he proclaims:

“The Lord is at my side, a mighty champion.”

This is the key that unlocks today’s message. Jeremiah’s courage did not come from popularity. It did not come from human support. It came from knowing that God was with him. The same is true for us. There will be times when we are misunderstood. There will be moments when we feel lonely, rejected, wounded, or abandoned. There will be times when doing the right thing is not appreciated.There will be moments when our faith is challenged or ignored. Yet God says to us exactly what He said to Jeremiah:

“I am with you.”

And because God is with us, Jesus can confidently tell us:“Do not be afraid.” In fact, Jesus gives us three beautiful reasons why we should not be afraid.

First, because of His Presence Before ascending into heaven, Jesus promised:

“I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Jesus does not promise a life without difficulties. He promises His presence in our difficulties. He is present in the Eucharist. He is present in His Word. He is present in prayer. He is present in the Church. But He is also present in moments of suffering, sickness, loneliness, rejection, and persecution. Therefore, we are never alone. The disciple’s courage comes not from personal strength but from the presence of Christ. Second, because we are precious in God’s eyes Jesus says:

“Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

In the time of Jesus, sparrows were among the smallest and least valuable birds. Yet God cares for every one of them. If God cares for sparrows, how much more does He care for us, His children? Jesus wants us to know that we are never forgotten, abandoned, or ignored by God. The world may judge us by our success, wealth, appearance, or achievements. But God looks at us with the eyes of a loving Father.

Our value comes not from what others think of us but from the love with which God loves us.

That is why Jesus says: “Do not be afraid.” Third, because God knows us completely Jesus goes even further when He says: “Even the hairs of your head are all counted.”

(What about those who don’t have hair on their head? -rethink) What a beautiful image!

Jesus is teaching us that God knows every detail of our lives. He knows our joys and our sorrows. He knows our fears and our hopes. He knows our hidden tears and our silent prayers. Nothing about us is insignificant to Him. Many times, people feel alone because they think nobody understands them. But God understands us completely.

He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Therefore, even in our darkest moments, we can trust that we remain in His loving care. This brings us to the second reading. Saint Paul reminds us that through Christ, grace is stronger than sin and life is stronger than death. In other words, fear does not have the final word. Suffering does not have the final word. Death itself does not have the final word. Christ has the final word. And His final word is life, hope, and salvation. My dear brothers and sisters, the message of today’s readings is simple but powerful. 

(Just Remember)

When fear enters our hearts, remember Jeremiah: “The Lord is at my side.” When you feel forgotten, remember the sparrows: “You are worth more than many sparrows.” When you feel alone, remember the hairs of your head: “Even the hairs of your head are all counted.” And when you wonder whether God truly cares for you, remember Jesus’ promise: “I am with you always.” Therefore, whatever fear you brought with you today, place it in the hands of Christ. For the Lord is with us. He walks beside us. He strengthens us. He protects us. And one day, if we remain faithful, He will acknowledge us before His Father in heaven. As He Himself said today "Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven." Therefore, do not be afraid. The Lord is at our side.

Amen.

FR. PAUL REGINALD MWALONGO