MATTHEW 10:24-33 DO NOT BE AFRAID

Year A, Saturday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time

Three times in today's Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples, "Do not be afraid." He knows that following Him will not always be easy. There will be misunderstandings, criticism, and moments when our faith is tested. Yet His message is clear: Do not let fear have the final word.

Fear can quietly control our lives. We fear failure, rejection, illness, the future, or what others may think of us. Sometimes we even hesitate to live our faith openly because we worry about how people will react. But Jesus reminds us that our lives are safely held in the Father's loving hands. If God knows every sparrow and even the number of hairs on our heads, how much more does He care for each one of us?

This does not mean that life will be free from difficulties. It means that we never face those difficulties alone. God's presence is greater than our fears, and His love is stronger than whatever threatens our peace.

Perhaps today's Gospel invites us to ask ourselves: What fear is keeping me from trusting God more completely? Whatever that fear may be, bring it to the Lord today. He does not promise to remove every difficulty, but He does promise to walk with us through each one. And that is enough. With Christ beside us, we can face tomorrow with confidence rather than fear.

With Love and Prayers

Your Co-Traveler

Father Leo