SELECT HEREfor the Audio recording of the Readings of Sunday, June 21st, 2020, the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
SELECT HEREfor the Readings of Sunday, June 21st, 2020, the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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Sunday, June 21st, 2020, the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
“Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.” Matthew 10: 32-33
TO SHARE GOD’S CARE IS TO KNOW GOD’S CARE
Marketing is such a big part of a lot of things we do these days. One of the top rules of marketing is ‘know your audience’. If we in some way applied this rule to our readings this weekend, to be a prophet or disciple, one must ‘know their audience’. In this case, it is God (Heavenly Father). The mission of the prophet and disciple is to ‘Share God’s Care’ to the world and not let anything stand in his way.
To share God’s care, it begins with proclaiming God’s word or the Gospel truth, and this can be a very unsettling truth. The word of God is an ‘unquiet word’. It itches, bothers, angers and is very uncomfortable at times. Sharing it can be very difficult (especially in today’s world) and it will never be well received. Jeremiah in his time, had a fair amount of rejection and threats to his life. He actually goes through an interior crisis. This crisis is expressed in these words: “I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce! Let us denounce him!’ All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine...” (Jeremiah 20: 10). He is rejected. Yet one thing keeps things in perspective: “I know the Lord is with me like a mighty champion." Jeremiah knows his audience.
Where in your life has your Christian faith stood and values brought you rejection or animosity? Has this happened even with people close to you? What keeps your focus?
Jesus in the Gospel exhorts the twelve to be fearless. What is said in the darkness, must be spoken in the light, whisperings must be proclaimed on the house tops. Human tribulation shall come, but it shall go. Be more afraid of one who kills body and soul. Yet Jesus speaks of the reassuring message of a compassionate and concerned Father who will not deny anyone who acknowledges him before others. So, know your audience. Perseverance in bearing witness to Jesus will win out.
What is our take home message from all this? We are challenged to share God’s care (concern) with others. We must bring God’s concern to the people in dire need of it today. A message of support to those who are hopeless. A message of fairness and justice to those locked up in the prisons of anxiety. Peace to those who are troubled. Bring God’s reassurance to the world. (Remember, in order to do this, you may have to go beyond your ‘own world’.)
As we do all this, we will know God’s care too.
Fr. Anthony
View the below videos for another Reflection on the readings.
We would like to come together in the most accesible way we can as a Catholic and Christian community.