Sunday 12th Ordinary Time Cycle A. 18-19/06 / 2005 (10g) Mt.10: 26-33

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Let me begin by asking you this question: what are the things that you are afraid of in your life? What is it that makes your heart pound, your palms sweat, your face flush, and your knees weak? What is it that causes your voice to tremble and sets your hands shaking? Lets take a moment to think about this. Perhaps for some it may be thunderstorms or lighting.. . For others heights or snakes or public speaking. Some of us may be afraid of the darkness.. ..etc. These are the things that we are facing everyday of our lives. It is normal for us to be afraid of them. But let me ask you one more question: is there anyone here who has thought about being afraid of God? This need not surprise us at all, because God seems so far away, so distant from our lives. If this is true, then I think it is about time for us to think seriously about this matter.

Today in preparing and sending his disciples on mission, Jesus tells them: do not afraid. He can see many challenges that the disciples must meet and deal with in their journey. Jesus wants to share his concern with them and at the same time to make sure that he will travel along with them all the way. And most importantly is that Jesus wants them not to lose their faith in the gospel that they are preaching. Then the question for us to ask: So what does Jesus have to offer them, to assure that they should not be afraid? Jesus has offered them and us today as well, first of all ‘the Father’ who loves us, understands us, watches over us, and takes care of us. Secondly, Jesus offers himself as our Brother who knows every thing about our human condition. Nothing human is foreign to him. He lived life to the full. And lastly, Jesus offers to them and to us the God’s spirit who lives in us and surrounds us. The Spirit helps us look into the littleness of our lives and realize that all things work for our good. The Spirit is assuring us that we are children of God. In fact, we are called by name. And we have a destiny. These were the major offerings that Jesus wanted to give to his disciples as they began their mission. In short, Jesus wants to send the message that: ‘go on your journey and I am right at your side all the way.’

So why do we still worry, when we honestly know that in the long run, in the final analysis, we are in good hands? And that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God? The answer is we still worry, I think, because we somehow want to worry. There is a certain payoff from worry. Deep down, we don’t want to worry, but we also don’t want to stop worrying. That is all about life. We are like the disciple who asked the master to teach him to pray. The master held the disciple’s head under water until he fought his way to the surface gasping for breath. And the master calmly said: ‘when you want to pray as much as you want to breathe, you will pray.’

My dear brothers and sisters, the meaning of the story of the master who wants to teach his student how to pray is the essential key for us in resolving the main matter of worrying. That it is only when we begin to take God seriously; When we begin to give our dealings with God top priority, we then might not worry and not be afraid of anything any longer. Our challenge today is to follow the words of Jesus. That is we must listen to him and lives our live without worry and fear.

May our risen Lord bless us and be with us all the way as we continue our journey to his heavenly home. Amen.