“BE not afraid!” These are the words that I remember most from John Paul II as he spoke to youth during World Youth Days. His successor, Benedict XVI, would convey a similar message, and I’m certain that our present pope, Francis, would keep this mandate in mind when it will be his time to speak to the youth of the world on World Youth Days in Rio de Janeiro from July 23 to 28, 2013.
“Be not afraid!” continues to be a relevant message in today’s time when we are facing ambivalences in our faith with differing moral values in our secular society. It’s a message that we need to hold on to cross “the threshold of hope” as John Paul II would say—the hope that we can overcome our trials and challenges as Catholic Christians; the hope that we can rebuild our Church and the faith of our people.
“Be not afraid!” are words that suits everyone who undergoes any uncertainty, doubt, disappointment, sickness or loss. They are words that ask us to hope and to believe in God’s power in our lives and in the abilities he gave us to overcome any pain or difficulty.
In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus told his disciples, “The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” (Lk 10:9) These are words that speak of God’s Presence and Promise everyday of our lives. Thus he spoke to them about giving them power to “thread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.”
Indeed, if we dwell on fear, we can’t accomplish anything. But if we dwell on God’s presence and power in our lives, we can achieve and excel, and we can continue on welcoming new horizons and changes in our lives.
A few weeks ago at the Closing Mass of our school, I told our students to soar like eagles, reminding them that the eagle is the mascot of our school. I told them to keep imagining greatness and possibilities and to cultivate the talents that God gave them to succeed in any vocation or career. Our role as Catholic school leaders, teachers and parents is to allow them to excel in life as citizens or leaders of this world and to make them disciples of Christ.
Fear cripples us and makes us blind to our personal gifts. Fear makes us self-centered and preoccupied with our own needs. Fear prevents us from being generous and mission oriented. It takes away our zeal and zest for life and ministry.
If there is one gift of the Spirit that we all should ask from God then, it is courage. For courage allows us to continue taking on the journey of discipleship wherever the Lord leads us, even at the twilight years of our lives.
Let’s not be afraid then to keep on crossing the adversities and challenges of our faith. Like St. Paul in in this Sunday’s epistle we too must say, “From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.” (Gal 6:17)
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
