'Do Not Be Afraid'' - The 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33

Dear friends,

On this twelfth Sunday of ordinary time, we celebrate Christ Our Lord , who is always with us. He continues to deliver us from all that threatens and makes life difficult for us, namely; persecutions, sins, death, hatred, Covid-19 and so on.

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds the twelve of the persecutions that they are to encounter as the embrace His mission. Jesus told them that authorities will go after them, they were to suffer physical and emotional violence, they were to be rejected and persecuted but should be prepared to risk everything for the sake of the gospel.The disciples of course had the reason to be afraid. But he reassured them; Not to be Afraid!!! This is the message that should reverberate in the hearts of the disciples as they embarked on the journey of proclamation, Communion and Mission.

Today, we are living in the world where we see and hear about horrors every day. Many are experiencing; hatred, rejection, Vulnerability, Tension and unpredictability. Yet as followers of Christ, we are called to trust in God, Our Father, who knows us intimately and understands our needs.Fear is part of life and part of each of our own daily lives. We are afraid of many things; failure, death, violence, Covid-19 and so on. Like the disciples we are invited not to be afraid for God's love is superabundant. Jesus says; we are worth more than Sparrows. God knows everything about us, no matter how insignificant we think we are. Let us replace this false fear that breeds anxiety with trust in God. Most of our fear is rooted in the lack of trust in God's love. Fear needs not to have any power over us if we choose to really trust in the Lord. In these comforting and assuring words of Christ rest our hope and future as believers: ' Every hair on your head has been counted.....' So there is no need to be afraid!!!

Let us entrust our unknown future to our Known God. As a father, he will never reject us, no matter what happens along the way. May our endeavor to replace the culture of fear and indifference with that of love, trust, encounter and acceptance be brought to fulfillment. Let us trust in the Lord. Let us not be paralyzed by our fear. Instead let the words of Pope Francis, encourage us; Go out again and again, without fear and proclaim the good news which is for all people.

May God bless you abundantly.

Fr. Frank Kyazze Lwanga