12th Sunday of Ordinary Time
This Sunday we celebrate the 12th Sunday in ordinary time. In the first reading, Jeremiah’s lament is about his treatment at the hands of his adversaries. However, since his message comes from God, he is convinced of the rightness of his cause and of God’s ultimate vindication of his servant. In the second reading we hear that Paul was the originator of what came to be called ‘the doctrine of original sin.’ He was writing to Christians of Jewish background who had been brought up to believe it was their obedience to the Law that justified them in the sight of God. But sin ruled the world before the giving of the Law and, Paul insisted, it was faith itself the gift of God rather than the law that justified them, set them free as today it sets us free as well.
The Gospel message is quite simple Jesus tells us not to be afraid He does not disguise the truth that his disciples will be confronted by those who threaten, bully and intimidate others into submissive agreement. What our Lord said to His Apostles applies to all Christians including you and me in the practice of our faith. So today we think of all of those who have given us an example by living their lives in faith. These may be parents’ family members or people we have known we all have people who have shown us the way of faith. So as faith filled people Jesus teaches us that our only source of freedom and strength is the goodness of our heavenly Father the goodness that comes through Jesus himself. Furthermore, the discovery of this goodness carries with it the solemn obligation to pass on one’s blessings on to the people around us as we show our concern for others. Our world is full of meaningless hype and glitter, but the only truth that will prevail is the truth taught by Jesus passed down to us in faith. The courage ordinary Christians need today is often quiet and steady rather than dramatic and overpowering. Most believers will not face prison or martyrdom, but they do face pressures that test their faith every day.
It takes courage to remain honest in a dishonest environment, to forgive when resentment feels easier, to defend the dignity of the poor and forgotten, to remain faithful in marriage and family life, and to continue praying when God seems to be silent. We also need the courage not to be ashamed of the faith we profess. In many places, we are tempted to keep religion private, avoiding any mention of hope, mercy, justice, or the Gospel for fear of criticism or rejection. Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid,” are spoken precisely for moments like these. He reminds us that we belong to God and are precious in God’s sight. Our world often admires power, success, and self-sufficiency. But Christian courage will always be different. It is the courage to remain compassionate in a harsh world, truthful in a dishonest world, hopeful in a despairing world, and faithful in a distracted world. Jeremiah’s words from the first reading become our prayer: “Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor.” The believer’s faith finally rests not in human strength, but in confidence that God remains faithful through every trial that may be thrown at us. May we remain faithful in every situation we may find ourselves as God remains faithful to us.
Fullerton T 