26 "So never be afraid of them. For there is nothing covered that will not be exposed, and nothing secret that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear, you must shout from the rooftops. 28 Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
29 Two sparrows are sold for a penny aren't they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's permission. 30 Indeed, even the hairs on your head have all been counted! 31 So stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.
32 Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before people I, too, will acknowledge before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before people I, too, will deny before My Father in heaven." (Mat. 10:26-33)
With so many uncertainties, the world we live in today can be pretty scary at times. Young people starting out in life usually worry about the future. Old folks fear that their lives will become a burden to the people they love. Those in between are concerned about their families and the thousand other things that could happen to them.
The root of all these problems and sufferings is human freedom. Our days are full of choices between two or more actions; which usually do not seem to be very good or very bad in themselves. But if I am free, I can always choose to do very bad actions.
This explains in part why people suffer so much and why there are martyrs; and the story continues even after our death. The freedom of choice ceases and God takes over. Ultimately, the one who suffered from the persecutor's evil choices is made happy forever, whereas the persecutor is punished.
On the difficult road to faith, we must expect to encounter opposition, division, betrayal and tensions. Yet Jesus said "Do not be afraid". Jesus urges us to put our trust in God and assured us that His Heavenly Father will take care of us.
In God's Kingdom, what essentially counts isn't strength of body or physical satisfaction but spiritual strength. We are to surrender to God's Spirit of Love that is manifested in the love of other people.
If we are willing to commit our lives to the Kingdom of Love that Jesus preached, the world might still be a scary place. But we will begin to realize how much God loves us, so that even the worst the world has done to us will be less terrifying.
As we surrender selfish interests and concentrate more on the power of God's love, we take comfort in the inner peace that love brings us. Just as His Divine Father raised Jesus, that same God will deliver us from suffering and welcome us to an eternal life of love.
This is the good news that Jesus wants to share with us today, just as He shared it with His followers in His lifetime here on earth.
God bless you!
FR. BEN SIM, SJ
Parish Priest
SACRED HEART PARISH
Cebu City, Philippines
29 Two sparrows are sold for a penny aren't they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's permission. 30 Indeed, even the hairs on your head have all been counted! 31 So stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.
32 Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before people I, too, will acknowledge before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before people I, too, will deny before My Father in heaven." (Mat. 10:26-33)
With so many uncertainties, the world we live in today can be pretty scary at times. Young people starting out in life usually worry about the future. Old folks fear that their lives will become a burden to the people they love. Those in between are concerned about their families and the thousand other things that could happen to them.
The root of all these problems and sufferings is human freedom. Our days are full of choices between two or more actions; which usually do not seem to be very good or very bad in themselves. But if I am free, I can always choose to do very bad actions.
This explains in part why people suffer so much and why there are martyrs; and the story continues even after our death. The freedom of choice ceases and God takes over. Ultimately, the one who suffered from the persecutor's evil choices is made happy forever, whereas the persecutor is punished.
On the difficult road to faith, we must expect to encounter opposition, division, betrayal and tensions. Yet Jesus said "Do not be afraid". Jesus urges us to put our trust in God and assured us that His Heavenly Father will take care of us.
In God's Kingdom, what essentially counts isn't strength of body or physical satisfaction but spiritual strength. We are to surrender to God's Spirit of Love that is manifested in the love of other people.
If we are willing to commit our lives to the Kingdom of Love that Jesus preached, the world might still be a scary place. But we will begin to realize how much God loves us, so that even the worst the world has done to us will be less terrifying.
As we surrender selfish interests and concentrate more on the power of God's love, we take comfort in the inner peace that love brings us. Just as His Divine Father raised Jesus, that same God will deliver us from suffering and welcome us to an eternal life of love.
This is the good news that Jesus wants to share with us today, just as He shared it with His followers in His lifetime here on earth.
God bless you!
FR. BEN SIM, SJ
Parish Priest
SACRED HEART PARISH
Cebu City, Philippines
