OT XII [A] : Jer 20:10-13; Rom 5:12-15; Mt 10:26-33  

C. S. Lewis wrote a book called The Screwtape Letters. "Screwtape" is a devil, a very accomplished devil. Using any trickery, he can, Screwtape turns people away from God. By his letters, Screwtape gives advice to Wormwood, his young nephew and apprentice who is just learning the deceptive ways of devils. In one letter, Screwtape writes to Wormwood, "Keep them anxious, make certain they are worried about something." Remind people about their fears. Why this advice? Being a devil, Screwtape wants to get people so focused on their fears that they forget God. Our Scripture readings for this Sunday call us to preach Christ through our words and lives without fear. 

The first reading tells us how the prophet Jeremiah trusted in the power of God while he faced opposition for his prophetic ministry. In the second reading, Paul assures the Christians in Rome that they need not be afraid of opposition both because they share in the death of Jesus and his Resurrection and because they are united with Christ, the new Adam, in his resurrection.

Today’s Gospel passage is taken from the end of Jesus’ instruction to his disciples as he sends them forth to carry on his mission of preaching and healing. He asks them to live simply and to expect opposition and rejection. After having predicted future opposition and persecution, Jesus encourages his disciples to stand firm. Three times they are urged, "Do not fear!" "Do not be afraid!" Instead of shrinking from their task, they are to proclaim the Gospel boldly because they will be protected, just as Jeremiah was assured of God's protection. 

This phrase, “Have no fear” runs like a refrain through the Gospel, indeed through the whole Bible.  To Abram, God said, “Do not be afraid, I am your shield.”  To the prophets, “Do not be afraid, I am with you.”  To Mary, the angel said, “Do not be afraid.”  To the apostles, Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.”  To Paul, the Lord said, “Do not be afraid.”  To all his disciples, Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, little flock” (Luke 12:32). In fact there are 366 times the bible repeats: do not be afraid. May be God wants to tell us every day of the year do not be afraid.

Fear is a powerful factor in the life of every human being. In young and old alike, fear can express itself as shyness, feelings of inferiority, aggression, and (most painful of all) anxiety.  Anxiety is a generalized form of fear: fear of nothing in particular but of everything in general.  It is often about possible future troubles rather than present ones.

Today’s gospel reading offers a more substantial support.  It does not say, “Don’t be afraid, it won't happen.”  It says something more like, “Don’t be afraid; it may well happen, but when it does happen you will not be destroyed as a person.”  This is the difference between optimism and hope.  The 14th-century English mystic Julian of Norwich put it clearly.  “He did not say, ‘You will not be tempted, you will not be troubled, you will not be distressed,’ but he said, ‘You will not be overcome.’” 

The God who cares for a trivial bird like the sparrow also cares about our smallest problems – even the hairs on our heads are counted. While this is an encouraging assurance, it may be difficult to believe in the midst of persecution. But God knows everything that we go through – nothing that happens to us escapes Him. When we feel lonely and abandoned, when it seems that our prayers are unanswered, God knows and cares.

Jesus concludes by saying, "So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows." In other words, the perfect antidote for fear is trust in God. God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. No matter how dark the tunnel of life gets, as Christians, we are always able to see a light ahead: our resurrected Lord.

Any time we are afraid that we will make a wrong decision, afraid of what the future will bring our children,  afraid of growing old, or of what bad health will bring us,  let us take a moment to recall some of the great promises of God, and remind ourselves that God cares for each of us.