Homily

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Over the past few weeks we’ve celebrated a number of significant liturgies in the church’s calendar. At Pentecost, the church was filled with the Holy Spirit beginning its journey of faith; Trinity Sunday invited us into communion of the Triune God; Corpus Christi reminded us of Jesus real presence in the Eucharist throughout the ages. Last week, we hear Jesus’ call for labourers to be sent into the harvest. 

In light of these events, we are now presented with the passage of overcoming fear in the context of mission; the focus of chapter 10 in Matthew’s Gospel. Today’s Gospel repeats three times, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 10:26, 28, 30) and no doubt there are times where we have been afraid of discipleship with Jesus. 

Jesus’ message is consoling encouraging us not to be afraid in taking part in discipleship even when it is met with push-back. He illustrates this alluding to the sparrows. In the biblical context, reference to the two sparrows sold for a penny indicates they are worthless, as if they have no value. Yet, none of the them fall to the ground without the Father’s knowledge (Matt 10:26, 29, 31). Taking the idea further, Jesus points out “every hair on your head has already been counted” (Matt 10:30). Through these images, Jesus reminds us that though these may be insignificant, no human person is ever beneath his concern, especially to those who faithfully seek him. 

Mission and discipleship will never be without difficulties. There is the fear of being ridiculed, misunderstood, criticised or rejected for our words when speaking about Christ. When fear approaches, we can choose silence instead of speaking out or we can choose to follow the crowd rather than Jesus. We can even shrink from our faith when our actions of goodwill are with scepticism. 

But God remains present with us all the time. He who watches over every sparrow and knows every hair on our head, also watches and knows every one of us. Knowing God is always with us, there is nothing to fear when enter discipleship and fellowship with Him. 

By Fr Ian Vergel