Pastor's Corner: Fear no one

In last Sunday's readings (Exodus 19:2-6a, Romans 5:6-11 and Matt. 9:36-10:8), it becomes very clear that we have been chosen and elected by God. In the reading from Exodus the people are told by God that they are a "kingdom of priests, a holy nation." I wonder if we believe that now. Do we consider ourselves priests? Do we believe we are a holy nation?

Our professed faith at our baptism acknowledges that we are to be priestly people. This means we are a people who help to mediate the relationship between God and humanity. This would be a difficult task indeed if God was a God who is far removed from us. But that is not how our God is. God is close to us. Throughout all of history God has proven consistently that He is a God who wants to be in relationship with us. This was made most clear when He came and lived with us as Jesus. It became even more evident when God sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us.

We are given this great gift of relationship with God for one purpose, stated by Jesus Himself in the Gospel reading mentioned above, that purpose is to proclaim the "Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Do I hear an "amen"?

Having said that I am going to turn to the readings for this coming Sunday, 25 June 2023. The readings are Jeremiah 20:10-13, Romans 5:12-15 and the Gospel is Matthew 10:26-33. So, keeping in mind what was written above what do these scriptures have to say to us?

In the first reading Jeremiah is doing what God has asked of him, he is prophesying to the people of Israel, and they are hating it. They hate Jeremiah and his message. So, what does Jeremiah do? Well, he doesn't quit doing what God asks he continues to proclaim God's message and places all his trust in God. Jeremiah accepts the possibility that he will suffer at the hands of the people but Fears No One because he knows that it is God who lifts up those who do His will. Jeremiah goes on and asks God to let him witness the vengeance God will take on those who are persecuting him. I personally question Jeremiah's wisdom in this request because God does not act out of vengeance. God is a God of justice and God's justice is His mercy. All Jeremiah has to do is to Fear No One and continue the mission God has given him.

In the second reading for this Sunday from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans, Paul announces that sin entered the world through Adam and that many have died because of that. Paul also announces that there has been a great gift given through the person of Jesus Christ, this is the ability for us to enter relationship with God through the gift of Jesus. This gift overcomes the sin that entered the world through Adam and should empower us to Fear No One so that we can continue our mission to live as a priestly people and a holy nation.

This brings us to the Matthew 10:26-33 reading. In this reading Jesus says "Fear no one." This means we are not to fear those who can destroy our bodies, but we are to fear the one who can "destroy both body and soul in Gehenna."

Who is the one who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna?

Let's use the process of elimination to determine the answer for this question. A knee jerk answer to this question might be that it is Satan who has the power to condemn one and destroy our body and soul. While Satan is indeed powerful and manipulative, he does not have the power to destroy our body and our soul the only power Satan has over us is the power we give him. Another response is that we humans hold the power to destroy both body and soul in Gehenna. It is easy to see that our free will and choices can indeed separate us from the justice and mercy of God, but we have no power to destroy both body and soul. So that just leaves us with God only who has the power to destroy or condemn both body and soul. This is who Jesus is referring to in the gospel when he says, "be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna."

So according to Jesus we are not to fear Satan. We are not to fear other humans. But we are to fear God. In my mind this seems contrary to how Jesus spoke of God. We are to call God "Abba." Jesus said that when we look at Him, we see God and the only image of God that Jesus showed us is a God of mercy, compassion, and healing.

In the gospel for this Sunday Jesus tells us that we are to proclaim from the house tops all that he has told us. We are to do this without fear even though our message will cause doubt and anger. Why will this happen? Well, the reality is God's Kingdom is not the kingdom much of humanity wants. Much of humanity desires that our will be done not God's will be done. When we choose our will over Gods, we condemn ourselves because we reject God's will for us.

God has given us free will. A great and dangerous gift. One that can lead us to eternal joy with God and God's people or it can condemn us to an eternity of separation from God and God's people. So perhaps to be able to heed Jesus's words to Fear no One we must examine our deepest desire and like Jeremiah and Jesus place all our trust in God and Gods will for us and proclaim that it is Gods Kingdom we are living in. Not ours.

Blessings

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Deacon Tim Maroney

St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church