June 19, 2005
Do not be afraid Mt 10:26-33
Jesus said to the Twelve:"Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 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."
It is better to lose your life than to lose your soul. No one can take away what is deep within my heart. It can not be bought, it can not be beaten out, it can never be killed. God's love is mine for all time it can never be taken away from me unless I give it up of my own will. It is the rock of faith to be held onto through the darkest storm. Nothing else has that power. I should never fear the other parts of life or worry about what might happen. I know that God cherishes me and my love. It is a knowledge that I give thanks for. It is not because of any worthiness on my part, God has loved and cherished me from the time before I was born. God knew me when my mother carried me in her womb. I can lose everything in my life and my life itself but I will never deny or let go of God and my faith in God.
Somehow this reading reminds me of an Irish saying. God knows every hair on my head. An irish birthday blessing, "may every hair on your head be a candle that lights your way to heaven."
Jesus said to the Twelve:"Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 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."
It is better to lose your life than to lose your soul. No one can take away what is deep within my heart. It can not be bought, it can not be beaten out, it can never be killed. God's love is mine for all time it can never be taken away from me unless I give it up of my own will. It is the rock of faith to be held onto through the darkest storm. Nothing else has that power. I should never fear the other parts of life or worry about what might happen. I know that God cherishes me and my love. It is a knowledge that I give thanks for. It is not because of any worthiness on my part, God has loved and cherished me from the time before I was born. God knew me when my mother carried me in her womb. I can lose everything in my life and my life itself but I will never deny or let go of God and my faith in God.
Somehow this reading reminds me of an Irish saying. God knows every hair on my head. An irish birthday blessing, "may every hair on your head be a candle that lights your way to heaven."
posted by Joan Morris at 5:40 AM
