Fourteenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

We shouldn’t be afraid to stand up to those who persecute or mock our faith. We do this best by imitating Christ in all our actions and proclaiming the gospel through our words and deeds. We should expect nothing but trials for doing this as the world rebels against the truth and seeks its own way. In the face of this opposition, we must be willing to die for our faith. We must realize that our beliefs may make us powerful enemies who will seek to kill us, if not physically, than emotionally, intellectually, or spiritually. But as Jesus tells us, we should not be afraid of being put to death by the world for our faith. Instead, we should fear what will happen to us, if we do not proclaim the kingdom of God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

What are we afraid of? How can we make our lives a witness to the Good News? Are we willing to sacrifice ourselves to save the bodies and souls of others?

O Lord, give us the courage to proclaim your Way, Truth, and Life, now and forever.

Amen.