12th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
SAFE IN HIS EMBRACE
Last Palm Sunday, bombs exploded
in two churches in Egypt, killing 45 people. In an interview, a Coptic bishop
explained that many people died because the church was jampacked. Considering
the threats and the violence suffered by Christians in some parts of the Middle
East, their faithful attendance at church is remarkable, admirable, surprising.
“Terror on every side”, as the first reading says (Jer 20: 10-13) and yet the
true Christian feels no reason to retreat and to run.
Jesus encourages us today: “Fear
no one” (Mt. 10: 26). Unlike persecuted Christians everywhere in the world,
many of us enjoy security and comfort like never before. Our lives are full of
things that make us impervious to the attacks of terrorist. We are safe. We have
resources. We are free.
And yet, many times we cannot
avoid other “enemies”. They may not target our bodies. But they do intend to
harm our reputation or good name, our relationships, our health, our dreams and
ambitions. If they cannot kill the body, certainly, they will attempt to kill
the soul. They will try to harm our hearts. They will try to crush our spirits.
How can we overcome fears of
these things? I believe the key is relationship with the Lord. If we believe
how precious we are in the eyes of the Father and how close we are to his heart,
we will overcome all fear. We know stories of people who walked in the darkest
tunnels of life, and yet did not feel any tinge of fear. We know of people who
have gone through the most harrowing experiences and yet confess that they did
not feel they were alone. I believe that this is only possible because they
opened their hearts to the invitation of the Lord to have a deep and living
relationship with him.
“So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
– Don’t these words say how much the Father loves and cares for us?
We may not see terrorists around
us but our lives may be surrounded by many constant threats. If we want to
survive all these and even conquer them, let us know the Lord in a deeper way
and follow him not with the mind but with the heart. Let us acknowledge his
love for and power over us.
