The gospel passage today is primarily directed at the Twelve Apostles. Jesus is warning them that the preaching they will do in his name will be an intrinsically frightening thing to many; and that only faith in a revealing and judging God can overcome that fear!
And so he tells them to go and proclaim in the light, and from the rooftops, the message of salvation that he is delivering to them in close quarters, in the darkness: the message that says that because God loves his people so very much – everything will work out in the end for those who trust in him absolutely and completely; and conversely, it won't for those who don't!
He tells them that God cares about each and every sparrow that he has created – and if cares that much about a sparrow think how much he cares about us – his beloved children!
When the gospel message of TRUTH: meaning "life in the Spirit of God," is proclaimed, it can be a very revealing thing! It can reveal exactly where we stand with God, with one another and ourselves. It is meant to be both challenging and comforting at the same time. For by the power of the Holy Spirit, what is negative can be transformed into what is positive: death can be transformed into life; darkness can be transformed into light; hatred can be transformed into love; sin can be transformed into forgiveness and selfish self-centeredness can be transformed into selfless self-giving. And this transformation is available because it has already taken place by the astounding Death and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ: Son of God and Son of Man.
In our second reading today St. Paul tells the Romans that the gift of reconciliation was no match for the transgression: that is, the disobedience of Adam that made it necessary. The gift of God's graciousness in Christ Jesus far surpasses the precipitating factor. The overwhelming flood of God's mercy and newness of life is amazing: and it is for all of us: who simply believe that it is so (in Jesus) and we try to live like we believe it!
Jeremiah, in the 1st reading, was a young prophet – a teenager – who was given a very difficult job by God – to tell God's people that they were displeasing him very much and that they had better mend their ways or else suffer the consequences. He could sense that everyone was very unhappy with him and were against him personally – as if it were his own words and message. Jeremiah was scared! But he prayed fervently and trustingly and the Lord God helped him do his job of speaking up though circumstances were dangerous for him.
Today God calls us – we, who are also "prophets by our baptism" – to speak up and out, whenever necessary, to make the world a better place and to help people in general understand that "the world to come" is the one that really counts, the real goal – and that the work we do in this world on any day ought to be always a preparation in some way for that one! Sometimes this might make us as unpopular as Jeremiah!
But if we pray and ask for God's help like he did– he will give it – and the gospel message of TRUTH grounded in Jesus who is TRUTH-IN-THE-FLESH – will be proclaimed! God will be pleased with us! And the coming Kingdom of God will be that much closer and already more visible!
Answer us, O Lord; for bounteous is your kindness and strong is your help!
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