Dear Friends,
If I am honest with myself, I am almost always afraid.
I am afraid that my children will get hurt or worse. I am afraid that I will not be able to keep the parish and school going through the worst of times. I am afraid that I will not live long enough to see my children grow up and prosper. I am afraid that I could lose my ability to provide for my family. I am now also afraid of the government, of police officers and federal agents, and I am afraid for others who are hunted for who they are, not for what they have ever done. Yes, I live in fear.
The other night, Jameson had a nightmare that I had died. He woke up screaming and in such a panic that he was on the verge of hyperventilating. It brought back my greatest fears all over again. I am afraid that when I die, my children will grieve so deeply, and I wish I could protect them from that fear. I know that I cannot, but it is still a valid fear for so many parents.
Fear is a powerful force. It can keep us silent when we should speak, hide our faith when we should witness, and prevent us from living as God calls us to live. Yet Jesus repeatedly says, “Do not be afraid.” Our courage does not come from our own strength but from knowing that we are precious in God’s sight. I often fail at knowing that in times of my own fear and it is most likely the result of years of feeling less than, inadequate and even at times, rejected. Now, those attributes live so deeply within me that I am fearful.
In our Gospel today, Jesus speaks words of both challenge and comfort. He tells His disciples not to be afraid of those who can harm the body, but to place their trust in God, who knows and loves them completely. Jesus reminds us that even the smallest sparrow does not fall without the Father’s care and that every hair on our heads is counted.
To acknowledge Christ before others is not simply about words; it is about the way we should live. Every act of kindness, every stand for justice, every gesture of compassion, and every expression of faith proclaims that we belong to Him. And, by belonging to Him we have nothing to fear.
Today, Jesus invites us – myself included – to trust more deeply in God’s loving care and to live our faith boldly, confident that we are known, cherished, and held in the hands of our Heavenly Father.
May it be so.
Monsignor Jim