June 25, 2023 (Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

by Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, O.P.

[This is the text composed by the homilist prior to delivering the homily.]

How many times has Jesus told us, “Fear not”? Fear often haunts us, and for good reason. This is not a safe and sane world! We need to go no further than the daily newspaper. But it is not merely the danger of these times; it is also its harshness. People are so quick to label and judge. And who wants to be judged?

Now fear is not bad. It is the gift of evolution that kept us wary and alive. We yearn for love, but we are shaped by our fears. It is not something you can overcome, but you can change your reaction to it. It is well to ask ourselves: Am I controlled by fear? Can I react differently to it? … Here is a quiz with antidotes.

1. Do I see only the downside? … The fearful focus and exaggerate the negative. … An antidote: Look for God’s presence; look for the upside.

2. Do I settle for less? … Fear of criticism, failure, or rejection makes us slaves to others’ approval, and we settle for less. An antidote: Trust God’s love and suggest better possibilities.

3. Do I feel a rising resentment? … Fear of letting people down causes us to respond with a quick yes when it would’ve been a thoughtful no. Look for the Spirit’s call to really do the best for others and yourself. You are not a slave.

4. Do I avoid speaking up for what I believe lest I be judged? … God gave you something wonderful to share; share good news.

5. Do I procrastinate a lot? Does uncertainty keep me from daring the new? … Christ calls you to an adventure of being your most exciting self.

6. Do I micromanage or demand control? … Old traumas can make us want to control everything and everyone. Journey from fear to faith in God; look for his call and grace in every day. Respect the other.

7. Do I live a life of distraction? Do I numb myself with media, food, alcohol, excessive busyness, etc.?… Too often, we use little palliative sins to shield us from facing our fears. We yearn for love, have quiet moments with God’s love, and then engage life and friends.

Jesus may say, “Fear not,” but fear can misshape our hearing Jesus words: Have no fear; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.

These words are a kind of Rorschach Test; how I hear them reveals a lot about me. For the anxious, they are anxiety-provoking. … I don’t want people to know my secrets! … Jesus makes it worse: fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. …!

Context means everything! In today’s Gospel, Jesus is sending his disciples on a mission to announce God’s Kingdom of God and they are anxious! They’re afraid of the unknown and the uncontrollable! So, he says: Have no fear; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.

In that 1st-century, shame-honor culture, there was no privacy, and secrets were suspicious. The scholar John Pilch explains, “The common suspicion in [that] society [was] that if one does not know what others are up to, they must be up to no good. They surely must be plotting something that would damage everyone in the village. …. Today’s Gospel is good news indeed: God the patron will uncover everything that is covered and will reveal all secrets. … In that paranoid word, knowing others’ secrets was protection. ….

It's not unlike seeing two people talking seriously, and when they notice you, they stop. Perceive secrets are suspicious. … You want to know that someone has your back.

Jesus was not saying, Watch out; I’m looking at you! He is saying, I am looking out for you. Jesus makes three points: (1) “Don’t be afraid; don’t let others intimidate you. (2) Their secrets threats will be exposed; I’ve got your back!” … (3) Share the good news I’ve told you!”

We need encouragement. We can be so educated, yet such wusses! Too often, we can be timid Catholics, while the aggressive can be obnoxious Catholics. … Our first task is to be joyful Catholics and, our second, is to be outspokenly caring Catholics.

These days are not times for silence. Too many people are hurting; too many are threatened! They are immigrants and refugees, the unemployed and the under-employed, the uninsured and those about to be uninsured, those ostracized, and those falsely feared. The planet, too, cries out in pain. Who will speak for them? Who will offer a hopeful vision? Don’t be silent about Jesus and his way of peace!

Jesus sent his disciples out amidst rising criticism to announce the kingdom. It was not a time for silence. Mathew wrote these words for his Jewish-Christian community facing opposition! It was a time for sharing. Matthew is asking: Are you afraid of being Jesus’ disciples publicly?

Today’s Gospel expresses both a radical challenge and God’s unconditional love; he even counts the hair on your head! His love makes a challenge. Will I go public with his love?... But what do we do with the lines? Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father. …. That last line is better rendered: … whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my heavenly Father.

Don’t hear these words as a threat but as the consequence of pushing Jesus away. I know married couples where the husband failed to stand up for his wife in the face of his mother’s withering criticism! … Now, that’s a world of betrayal and hurt!

Jesus’ words were addressed to those who had accepted, who once “owned him” but now “disown him.” … He is talking to fearful Christians who want to hide. …

Jesus is saying: Don’t hide. Their opposition will be revealed. … Why fear? … There is a Father who loves you so much he counts the hairs on your head. Don't hold back. You’ve got good news to share.

Jesus said: Have no fear, only “be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” But let’s face it, if God is so much for me, the one I really need to fear is myself! … I do need to fear pushing love away and embracing the isolation I create! God says one thing: Let me love you! Then share it!