Acknowledging Christ
Twelfth Sunday - Year A - June 25, 2023
Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33
Three times in today's Gospel we hear "fear not" (Matt. 10:26;28;31) and once we are told to "fear" (Matt. 10:28). The Bible teaches that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7; 9:10) and that those who fear the Lord lack nothing (Ps. 34:10). But unlike the fear of others that comes to us naturally, the fear of God needs to be learned (Ps. 34:11).
When Jeremiah was about to begin his preaching, God told him: "Do not be afraid of them" (Jer. 1:7; see Matt. 10:26). Fear of those who can kill the body often shuts up our mouth. Instead of declaring openly to the world what we hear from our Lord in darkness (Matt. 10:27), we remain silent or like the false prophets proclaim what people want to hear. But Jeremiah did not submit to that paralyzing fear. Despite being threatened with death (Jer. 11:21) for years he faithfully preached God's call to repentance.
"Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna" (Matt. 10:28). The valley of Ben-Hinnom (Gehenna) was a tragic proof that through man "sin came into the world, and death through sin" (Rom. 5:12). It was a place in ancient Jerusalem where those who did not fear the Lord sacrificed their children to a Canaanite idol Moloch (Jer. 7:31; 2 Chron. 28:3). Only someone who feared the Lord could end such a horrible practice (2 Kings 23:10), but the place in Jewish and Christian tradition became a symbol of hell.
From Gehenna Jesus directs our eyes to two sparrows (Matt. 10:29). God does not desire to destroy both soul and body in hell (1 Tim. 2:4; see CCC, 1037), because he loves all things that are (Wis. 11:23-24). He cares for the sparrows, feeds the birds of the air (Matt. 6:26), and clothes the grass of the field (Matt. 6:30). Thus, whenever the fear of the world overwhelms the soul of an apostle, it is enough for them to look at the sparrows and remember the words of Christ: "You are worth more than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:31).
"What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops" (Matt. 10:27). Jesus tells us in the dark something that even "angels long to look into" (1 Pet. 1:12), namely the Gospel! Adam brought sin into this world and sin brought death, but Christ has undone the work of Adam, grace overcomes sin, and life defeats death (Rom. 5:19-21). In his great mercy, the Lord has turned towards us and the universe praises God for his marvelous plan of salvation (Ps. 69:34-35).
But, the Gospel is not welcome in the world of sin. A disciple of Christ has to learn not only the fear of the Lord but also how to bear insults (Ps. 69:8-10) and hostility (Jer. 20:10-11). Our initial willingness to lay down our lives for Christ (John 13:34) may turn into fear of persecution that can make us momentarily deny knowing Christ (John 18:25-27). What then? Weep bitterly (Luke 22:62), get converted, and strengthen brothers and sisters in faith (Luke 22:32).
Saint Paul compares a life of an apostle to a "spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men" (1 Cor. 4:9). However, we do not aim to win the applause of that audience but the acknowledgment of the one who called us to the stage. For Christ's sake we are willing to become like "the scum of the world, the refuse of all things" (1 Cor 4:13) because we want to hear our Lord Jesus telling the Father that we have done well in life, bearing witness to the Gospel and acknowledging Christ before people (Matt. 10:32; 25:23; CCC, 1816).