Whom do we fear?

     As some of you may know, for about three years I have been involved in the Catholic Radio Ministry of WAOB (We Are One Body) serving Southwestern Pennsylvania.  I am a part of a team who provides a daily "lectio divina" program entitled "Drawing Life-Giving Waters From Jacob's Well", live every evening from 8 to 9.

For well over a year I have guided the Saturday program, which provides four Scripture passages (the next day's readings) and my three reflections on each of those Scriptures.  Today I would like to share my thoughts on this past Sunday's Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 10, verse 26 through 42.

     Our gospel for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time is taken from the second half of chapter 10 of Matthew.  Jesus tells us just who it is that we need to fear.

     Earlier in this chapter Jesus warns us to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing … of the time when we see brother against brother, family against family and friends … and of those who persecute us.  Jesus' words still have powerful meaning, for we are continually confronted with anger and hostility, persecution and ridicule, hatred and violence.  Every day on the news we see and hear of a world gone astray,  Fear is the emotion of the moment in our troubled times.

     Verse 26 echoes what we heard so often from Saint John Paul II … "Fear not!"  It says: "Have no fear of the things that cause fear."  We may suffer because of fear, but there is nothing that is hidden that will not be made known.  Christ loves us and stands by our side.

     Verse 27 says: "What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops.  Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."

     In this dark hour of confusion and anger and fear, we are told with clear and outright assurance that we are the beloved of God.  We are told that it is not just one or another life that matters, but that the lives of all of God's children are precious.  In the midst of confusion and fear - health wise, socially, racially, economically, politically, historically - that the Lord whispers to our hearts of his love and his protective care, and he calls us as Church to proclaim it from the housetops.

     We have been physically separated from one another, kept from the strengthening power of worship in the house of the Lord and the nourishment of Eucharist, confronted with injustice and fear and anger, and seen reason be misplaced.

     But we continue to be chosen and gifted with God's love.

     Whom do you fear?  I believe FDR said "We have nothing to fear but fear itself".  I am a Tolkien fan, and in "The Lord of the Rings" the dark wizard Saruman asks his grotesque followers: "Whom do you serve?"  They answer, of course, Saruman!

     For me and my house … we will serve the Lord. Whom do we fear?  With respect for all powers, good and bad alike, we fear no one - for we are the beloved of God.  As Matthew tells us, God protects even the smallest sparrow … and we are worth more than many sparrows.

     Verse 32 says: "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven."

    This is not the message that many want us to hear nor is it the attitude of heart that some want us to have.  Touched by grace we stand against the call to darkness and stand in the light.  I read somewhere that: "Love is what we were born with … fear is what we learned here."  Take your birthright and witness to God's love.

The Strength of the Holy Spirit

     This past Saturday, May 30th marked the celebration of Memorial Day.  The nation celebrated the occasion on the previous Monday as we have for many years, in order to have a long holiday weekend.  But Memorial Day, or as it was once called, "Decoration Day", was celebrated on May 30th for most of my life.  The day originated following the Civil War and was a day to honor those who have died in battle by "decorating" their graves and honoring their service and sacrifice.  It is a day of parades and flags.

     I always thought, as a child, that the parades and flags were in my honor, since this is the "memorable" day that I was born into this world back in 1947.  So Saturday was my birthday, along with another of our priests here at Neumann House.  It was a good birthday.  I pointed out that there are two significant numbers for me this year: I was born in '47 and this is my 47th anniversary of ordination … and I was ordained in '73 and this year I celebrate my 73rd birthday.

     The day was capped off with a special "Extended Pentecost Vigil Liturgy" for our small group with Mass at 7:00pm in the Saint Joseph Chapel on the campus of Christ Our Shepherd Center where I live.  The "extended Vigil" is an optional Pentecost vigil celebration similar to the Easter Vigil with added Scripture readings and sung responses.  Most of the men had never experienced this in the parishes, but I have been doing so since the publication of the New Roman Missal created the liturgy.  We were blessed with an accompanist and cantor, and the liturgy was beautiful.  It capped off my day.

     You may not know that I am a part of a radio ministry in the area on WAOB (We Are One Body), a Catholic channel that ministers throughout a wide area on both am & fm.  I am part of a daily "lectio divina" program entitled "Drawing Life-giving Waters From Jacob's Well" broadcast every evening live from 8 to 9 pm.  I usually take the Saturday evening program and give reflections on the next day's scriptures.  I have been blessed to do this ministry for nearly three years now.

     The station also has me record English versions of talks that our Holy Father gives to various group, for broadcast at varying times throughout the day.  I did such a taping this afternoon, and it spoke to my heart of the need for the strength of the Holy Spirit in our lives, especially today.

    The Holy Father was speaking to CHARIS - The Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service leadership group in a video message for their Pentecost Vigil Celebration.  The Holy Father said that we are to be a "witness to Jesus".  He said that "today the world suffers, it is wounded … the world needs us to give it Jesus.  We are only able to give this witness with the strength of the Holy Spirit."

     He reminds us that the Spirit gives us new eyes to see that we are in this world of suffering and joy together, united by the power of the Holy Spirit.  He says that "We have before us the duty to build a new reality.  The Lord will do it; we can collaborate: "I make all things new", He says in Revelation 21:5.

    Then he said something profound.  "When we come out of this pandemic, we will no longer be able to do what we have been doing, how we have been doing it.  No, everything will be different."

     "From the great trials of humanity, including this pandemic, we emerge either better or worse.  We do not come out the same."  The Holy Spirit changes our hearts, strengthens our resolve, inspires our spirits and helps us to come out better."

     Good, strong, necessary words.  The question we have been asking here is: "Will things ever get back to normal?"  Normal is not enough!  We need to trust the strength of the Spirit to help come out better.