Summer Shorts – Ten-Sentence Sermons for Sunday Mass 2008

For 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This week, the Lord has presented us with the paradox of: “fear no one” and “be afraid.”

The difference between the two is that the first phrase, “fear no one,” refers to those fears that cause us confusion and even endanger our souls. By contrast the second statement, “be afraid,” refers to those fears that keep us practical, functioning and focused on our salvation. One aspect of “fear no one” addresses those misplaced fears that confuse us and leave us being more afraid of suffering or loss concerning things of this world, than afraid of those things that would endanger our souls and salvation.

A second aspect of “fear no one” addresses that fear called anxiety, with which we find ourselves so paralyzed that we can’t even do the basic things we need to do to take of our lives, whether for our bodies, our families or our souls. On the other hand, “be afraid” first helps us to be practical and stay away from the things that can harm us, like pedestrians concern about traffic or our hands and hot stoves.

A second aspect of “be afraid” is the commandment whereby we fear the sufferings of Hell more than we fear any sufferings in this life. Finally a third aspect of “be afraid” is the beatitude whereby we are so in awe and love of the goodness, glory and mercy of God, that we would suffer anything rather than offer Him any offense.

For your homework, please pray be the graces both to “fear no one” and “be afraid,” so that we can avoid true evils and embrace whatever suffers are  ecessary for our life on earth and our life in Heaven.