TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, June 25, 2023
(Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33)
Today's gospel is taken from the "apostolic
sermon" of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. It is one of the five
great discourses that make up the body of the gospel. We heard from the
beginning of this sermon last Sunday with Jesus sending out his disciples to
proclaim the Kingdom. Next Sunday we will hear part of its conclusion. In the
segment now Jesus wants to encourage his messengers. We should listen to him
because, whether we are priests or laypersons, the Lord asks us to take his
message to the world.
First Jesus tells his apostles, "Do not be
afraid." It is certain that they will meet with opposition. Bandits roam
the roads looking for travelers. In the towns the Pharisees will resist those
who undermine their authority. What will make us afraid to proclaim the Kingdom
in today’s world? In Nigeria, Muslim militia have created fear among
Christians. With impunity they attack the faithful in churches and take
children prisoners in schools. In our country the fear is not of being
annihilated but devalued. If the person proclaims her faith in public, she may
be considered childish. If he expresses Catholic teaching on a political issue,
he can be excluded. He may even incur penalties for taking a stand against a
new state policy.
However, we do not have to fear because of God’s promise. In
the gospel today Jesus recommends trust in God. He says that if the Father
takes care of the birds of the sky, he will protect us even more. Trevor
Williams, a major league baseball player, was confident in this love when he
criticized the Los Angeles Dodgers on Twitter. Realizing that the Dodgers were
going to award a group that dresses up as nuns to promote homosexual love,
Williams proclaimed: “To invite and honor a group that makes a blatant and
deeply offensive mockery of my religion…undermines the values of respect and
inclusivity that should be upheld by any organization”. “
It is possible that Mr. Williams had our gospel today in
mind when he tweeted about it. Jesus promises his apostles: "Whoever
acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father."
Williams concluded his message by saying: "As Catholics, we look to Jesus Christ
and the way he was treated, and we realize that any suffering in this world
unites us to him in the next."
Maybe we don't have a Twitter account. Nor have we the
apparatus or the inclination to set up a loudspeaker at the corner to broadcast
our faith in the Lord. Yet we do not lack opportunities to manifest our faith
in public. If we are used to praying before eating at home, why not do it in a
restaurant? Wearing such a cross necklace can be a show of faith. In fact, in
England it is considered a crime for a teacher to wear such a necklace in the
classroom. Leaving a movie theater or turning off the TV when obscene scenes
are shown is an act of faith that requires courage. Gratefully accepting a baby with Down
syndrome may indicate faith. We should pray that God never puts us in the
situation of having a loved one in the persistent vegetable state. But if he
happens to us, let us proclaim faith our faith by giving him the care required
to live.
In the first reading the prophet Jeremiah is being denounced
by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Led by the Holy Spirit, he says that because
of its sins God is going to destroy his city. Although his prophecy results in
persecution, he does not cease to proclaim God's will. He is sure that his
persecutors will be put to shame. He knows that God is on the side of the just.
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