SPEAK UP, DO NOT BE AFRAID.

TWELVE SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR A.
June 22, 2008.
(First reading: Jeremiah 20:10-13) (Psalm 69: 8-10, 14, 17, 33-35)
(Second reading: Romans 5:12-15) (Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33)


SPEAK UP, DO NOT BE AFRAID.

Jesus wants us to speak up fearlessly to the world of his justice, his peace, his life, his grace, his Good News of liberation and unity, his triumph over sin, over evil, over death.

But the world uses fear in order to suppress the voice of Christ proclaimed through his followers.

This is the fear the world instills in us: To harm us individually and to harm our loved ones, because for Christians all human beings are our loved ones, and "what harms them, harms me as well".

Our strength to speak up in behalf of Jesus comes from our faith in Him. Let us describe this faith:
- We have faith that Christ has revealed the truth to us, for He is the Truth, therefore what he has revealed by his words and deeds we must "proclaim on the rooftops"; what he says to us in the darkness, we must "speak in the light" (Matthew 10:26).

There is nothing hidden in what he reveals to us, there is no double talk, there is no lie. And, This is his truth: What he reveals to mankind is for the salvation and redemption of all.

- We have faith in the dignity of our human nature. The gospel speaks of God's care for the human being reassuring us that there is nothing of greater value than a human being. "Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29-30).

There is nothing in the universe that deserves to be called children of God, except human beings.

- We have faith that nothing will harm us. The world and its evil forces can only harm the body "but cannot kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28). Those who suffer injustice and oppression may experience death in the "body", while those who inflict injustice and oppression are already dead, both in the body and in the soul.

- We have faith that we are free from fear even in the face of trials: "Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father" (Matthew 10:32).

Those who speak up of Jesus' peace, mercy and justice truly share in "the precious gift of the one person Jesus Christ [causing His grace to] overflow for the many" (Rom. 5:15).

Whereas, those who fail to speak up in behalf of Jesus, join Adam through whom "sin entered the world, and through sin death" (Rom. 5:12). The failure to speak up in behalf of Jesus before the world causes death to the body and the soul.

Let us speak up in behalf of Jesus without fear.