Fear Not
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Lectionary 94
Who are you afraid of?
Jesus tells the disciples to expect trouble. He says that people will lie about them. He says they will say all sorts of bad things about them. He warns them they will be accused of horrible things, and even turned over to the authorities.
Then he says – fear no one. The truth will come out one day. Be patient, endure the suffering that comes your way, and trust in God’s love.
God is in control, and God loves us.
This does not mean we will never suffer. On the contrary, we will suffer. But, it does mean that we do not suffer alone. God suffers with us.
The internet is full of news and rumors. Angry people are tearing down statues of saints who served immigrants and the poor, because they assume falsely that everyone in the past was an oppressor of immigrants and the poor. They are tearing down statues of those who suffered and died to abolish slavery, because they forget that the past is just like the present: some people were wise, and some were foolish; some people were good, and some were evil. At the same time they tear down statues of good and holy people, some people are setting up statues of mass murderers like Lenin, and even honoring the evil one, our enemy, the devil. Some of these people are people of good will, acting rightly. Some are confused. Some are influenced by evil spirits who hate them, and who hate us.
But, should we be afraid?
No.
In the end, God wins. In the end, love wins. In the end, truth wins.
If they tear down every statue of every Saint, it is sad, but it does not affect the ending – the saints enjoy the beatific vision, and continue to pray for us and to work for us. We do not need to fear, only to remember their stories, so we can teach them to our children. Are you prepared for that? If not, perhaps this is a good opportunity to learn more about a few saints, and tell their stories in your family. Perhaps it is a good time to choose a patron saint for your home, and offer that saint special honor. Celebrate her or his feast day. Invite them to pray for you. Give thanks to God for the example of holy men and women, and for allowing them to help us. And, don’t just choose saints who look just like your family. Choose saints from a diversity of races and cultures, because we are one family through our adoption as God’s children.
If they set up statues of Satan and Lenin in every city – and they won’t – it is sad, but it does not affect the ending. Evil is already defeated by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus Christ has already won the victory. All of the shrieking and cursing we hear around us is only the sound of a defeated enemy fleeing. Hold fast to what you know. Our history is full of people who were good, and people who were evil. Do not look to the world to decide whom we should adore. We adore only Jesus Christ, the savior crucified and risen, ascended into heaven, and who will come again in Glory.
The other day, someone asked “when was America ever great,” implying that the answer is “never. I was sad, because they were, at least for a moment, so blinded by fashionable outrage. The countries of our ancestors were mostly good places, but our families left them to escape serious difficulties, and to make a better life in America. They did make better lives, and we have enjoyed freedom and prosperity more than any other nation in the history of the world. There is suffering, and injustice, but there is also joy and peace and freedom. America is not heaven. But America is not hell, either. We are America.
And, the same is true of the Church. We are the church. Sometimes, we are foolish. Sometimes, we are evil. Sometimes we are good, and wise, and, yes, even great.
We are great when we set aside fear, and trust in God. We are great when we set aside self interest, and live in love. We are great when we set aside political parties and religious arguments, and stand up for truth, for justice, for love, and for mercy. We are great when we stand up for the oppressed, and demand that even those who are evil, stupid, or wrong deserve to be treated with the dignity that is theirs as a creature created in the image and likeness of a God who loves them.
We are great when the poor prosper. We are great when all lives matter, from conception to natural death, especially those of people of color, who have been unjustly targeted for murder in the womb by white supremacists. We are great when we build a better future for our children, and for our neighbor’s children. We are great when we honor and give thanks for those who serve our nation, our community, and the people of God. We are great when we love sacrificially, because it is then that we are most like our God. We are great when we forgive.
Fear no one. Love God. Love your neighbor.
God is in control, and love wins.
