+ Again today, we have amazing and timely readings. The
underlying message is: FEAR NO ONE. Though many may, not only apparently, but
actually really, be out to disengage us from our God-given mandate and
“marching orders,” – we are told by Jesus not to fear them at all. Theirs is a
vehicle and vessel of clay not unlike our own, and theirs is a mental capacity
and conscience framework not unlike our own. Hopefully, both we and them, have
taken the proper steps and instruction to rightly form not only our bodies, but
our minds and our spirits.
Then it does not matter if
outside forces and influences attack us, either in minor or even more major
kinds of ways: we will know that the important enemy is the one that can “kill
the soul” – and not the body. The body is dispensable, but the soul is not –
the soul is immortal and accountable and responsible for its right, good,
useful and proper functioning – as we cooperate with God’s plan for building
the Kingdom – in the small but significant way that he assigns to us.
Jeremiah, dear youthful,
energetic, enthusiastic Jeremiah, a Prophet chosen by God to be a sentinel and
warning for a wayward people of God, though concerned about the plottings, and
the conspiracies that seemed to erupt the more he shouted out God’s will – he
still trusted in God – and knew that God would have vengeance on any who
attempted ill actions towards him.
How often do we feel like Jeremiah
– with seeming whisperings of terror on every side aimed at us: “Denounce, let
us denounce him!”
But, did not Jesus bear the
same fate. We are in good company!
And so Jesus tells us in the
gospel passage to “fear no one, because someday the entire story will be
revealed, all the secrets of the heart will be proclaimed from the housetops,
and what we tried to do, even in our human frailty, with the built in
limitations that were ours because of our association with our first Parent:
Adam, will be perfectly clear and we will be vindicated.
What this tells us is that:
effort is everything, willingness to do what is right, good, beautiful, just
and compassionate – no matter the opposing force – will always be vindicated.
Yes, we must acknowledge not
only the Father, to ensure our heavenly reward, but also his Son, and their
Spirit – and their operational gift of salvation that is found in the Mystical
Body of Christ – the Church – which is always guided by the Spirit of Truth,
Peace, Joy and Love.
The
Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord; and you also will testify! And
so, FEAR NO ONE! I am with you until the
end of the age!
No comments:
Post a Comment