In this week’s gospel, Jesus is teaching his disciples about their mission. He warns them of the persecutions and trials that they will face. Just as he, Jesus, faced opposition and rejection; so, will they.

So too did the prophets, including Jeremiah, of whom we read in the first reading.

Jesus urges his disciples, soon to be his missionaries, to take up their mission to proclaim the good news of the gospel. No matter the opposition and suffering they might face, he exhorts them: “Do not be afraid.”  

But, knowing that they will suffer on account of their faith in him, he offers them consolation. He reassures them that they are precious in God’s eyes: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted.  So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Moreover, he promises them that “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”

We too, his disciples today, will face difficulties and challenges, perhaps derision, rejection and suffering, because of our faith in Jesus. There will be times of discomfort or perhaps embarrassment, when others deride or disparage us for our faith.

But, like the disciples then, we are to live our Christian faith confidently and fearlessly, working for justice and for peace, standing up for the least among us, doing what we can to help build a better world, unafraid to profess our faith and to demonstrate it in action.

As an Australian politician once noted, life wasn’t meant to be easy. Living our faith, following our Lord Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength was never going to be easy. Our faith makes demands of us!

Let us examine our consciences in light of the gospel. Do we keep very private our commitment as Christians, keeping it out of view of neighbours, work colleagues, even friends? Do we shy away from professing our faith in Jesus, keeping it hidden? Do we speak up when values or opinions which are alien to our faith are promoted in our hearing? Do we let fear of disparagement or rejection stop us from saying what we believe to be true or from doing what we know to be right?

For most of us, it is not in a public forum, but rather in ordinary day to day interactions and conversations that situations arise to challenge us to speak of our faith and the values that inform our opinions and choices.

It is also what we do and how we conduct ourselves that professes what we believe.

Let it always be with courtesy and respect for others. As the Apostle Peter teaches us: “Always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience” (1 Pet 3:15-16).

Anne Hunt

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