It is 21st June 2020. We celebrate the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. As we enter the longest day of the year, we celebrate the Father’s Day. It is the day we all need to think about and be thankful for our biological father living and gone before us. Most of them are silent saints, surplus heroes, undying inspirations, melting motivations, tough love, and unforgotten memory. However flawless we could dream of our fathers, yet some of them had their shades and shadows of life that never been an obstacle in loving them. A first friend, and untiring counsellor who is touched by our little love notes and thoughtfulness. When a loving and caring father is near, there is nothing to fear. By any means, it is worth connecting him to share our love today. If he is not around, say a prayer for him. The readings are from Jeremiah 20:10-13; the second reading is Romans 5:12-15; and the Gospel is from Matthew 10:26-33.
As the blanket of fear is over us, so faith in God, the Father deep within us. The readings today expose one of the powerful emotions of human heart. Fear takes a turn and toll on our entire life if not handled with love. We all fear for many things. Most of us still fear the infection of coronavirus and its devasting effects on us. Acknowledging our fear is the authentic way of treating it. Surrendering ourselves to fear makes us paranoiac, panicking and powerless.
Repeated loud voices of fear cannot silence the profound depth of faith.
The first reading assures and strengthens that our Father-God is with us and therefore there is nothing to fear. Our hope, faith and love are on God who will never leave our hands when we feel that there is no one to lean and hold on any longer. God will not leave the grip even when we have no strengthen to hold him still. “But the Lord is with me like a dread warrior; for to you I have committed my cause.” (Jer.20:11,12).
The second reading teaches us that fear is transmitted through sin. We tend to be weak and fragile even broken as we continue to lean on sin. As fear is all around, so the sin is everywhere. Fear and sin have no power unless we offer them a space in our life. Grace soaks and sterilizes all our guilt, sin and shame.
The responsorial Psalm pleads, “Lord, in your great love, answer me.” (Ps.69:14).
In the Gospel, Jesus clarifies that who to fear and who not to fear. Fearless life is clueless life. A certain amount of fear for somethings is healthy for integral health and success in life. But Jesus encourages us not to fear any human person however strong they might be. “Fear no one.” (Mt.10:26). He continues to encourage us to have the reverential fear for the Lord. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mt.10:28). Time has come in our life to deal with all that holds us back to be the person God wants us to be. Our acknowledgement of God cannot be hidden due to fear. “God’s mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” (Lk.1:50). We are encouraged to cultivate the fear of the Lord as the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Happy the person who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commands” (Ps 112:1), and “the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord” (Sir 1:12). God alone offers us a fear-free intimate relationship in our life situation. “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (Ps 90:12). Let us overcome all our fear with the fear of the Lord. May we be strengthened by the paternal love of the father, as we offer our gratitude celebrating Father’s Day. May you have a good day. God bless you.