Reflection for Saturday, 14th Week of Ordinary Time 

By

 

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest, Bidar

Today's WORD of GOD 

Matthew10:28 -33 

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. 

Today's Reflection of meditative reading 

Today’s Gospel Passage Comes from the End of JESUS' Instruction to the Apostles, Sending, Them Forth to Carry on the Mission of Preaching & Healing, & Instructing Them to Live Simple Lives, Expecting Opposition & Rejection. Predicting Future Opposition & Persecution. 

JESUS Encourages the Apostles to Stand Firm., 3 Times Urging Them, & Us, “Do Not Fear!” “Do Not Be Afraid!” Thus, We Know that We, too, will be Successful Despite the Opposition We Encounter.

JESUS Gives 3 Reasons why the Apostles, & We, should Not Be Frightened. 

1st Reason is that Their Mission will Succeed, & Opponents will Not Be Able to Prevent JESUS' Followers from Succeeding in Their Mission because GOD will Expose Their Evil Plans & Deeds: “Nothing is Covered Up that will Not Be Uncovered.” The LORD “will Bring to Light the Hidden Things of Darkness” (1 Cor 4: 5) & will Vindicate the Faithful. That GOD will Not Permit Evil to Win.

2nd Reason Not 2b Afraid is the Limited Power of Our Opponents. 

They can Kill the Body, which Dies All too Soon Anyway, but Have No Power Over the Soul. 

3rd Reason We should Not Be Afraid is the Providential Care & Protection of Their Heavenly FATHER who Cares for All HIS Creatures. We are More Important to GOD than Sparrows “Sold at 2 for a Penny.” The GOD Who Cares for a Trivial Bird like the Sparrow also Cares about Our Smallest Problems – even Counting the Hairs on Our Heads. While This is an Encouraging Assurance, We may Find It Difficult to Believe in the Midst of Persecution.


Life Messages: 

We can Suffer from Many Fears: 

(A) Fear of Loss: 

a) Loss of Life by illness or Accident; b) Loss of Dear Ones – Spouse, Children, Parents; 

c) Loss of Belongings & Property or Savings; 

d) Loss of Job; 

e) Loss of Good Name & Reputation by Slanderers 


(B) Baseless Fears Due to Mental illness. 

C) Global Fears about Terrorist Attack, Nuclear Holocaust, Plagues, like Covid-19, War etc. 

When We are Afraid let Us Remind Ourselves that GOD Cares – We are Each a Dear Child of HIS & HE Cares for Each of Us. 

Good morning

Have a lovely day and a great weekend.