“Do not be Afraid: God is With You” Jer 20:10-13; Rom 5:12-15; Mt 10:26-33 (A / 12)

 

“Do not be Afraid: God is With You”

 

Jer 20:10-13; Rom 5:12-15; Mt 10:26-33 (A / 12)

 

“Come and hear, all who fear God. I will tell what he did for my soul, alleluia”.

 

“Do not be afraid” is not merely a word of encouragement but a divine assurance. Throughout the history of salvation, God continuously speaks to his people with the same message: “Do not fear, for I am with you.” He knows our fears, our worries, our uncertainty about tomorrow, and our struggles with pain and suffering. Behind many smiling faces, hearts carry unseen wounds and hidden fears.

 

Job confessed in his suffering, “I know my redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). When the enemies of the prophet Jeremiah threatened him, saying, “Terror is all around! Denounce him!” (Jer 20:10), he felt abandoned and frightened. In that suffering, he confessed: “But the Lord is with me like a mighty champion” (Jer 20:21). His fear is transformed into trust. Courage does not mean we never experience fear; courage means we place our fear in God's hands. When Abraham did not know what the future held, God told him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield” (Gen 15:1). When Moses and the Israelites stood trapped before the Red Sea with the Egyptian army approaching behind them, God said, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the victory of the Lord” (Ex 14:13). When Joshua was entrusted with leading God’s people into the Promised Land, the Lord encouraged him, “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh 1:9). The reason for courage is not human strength, not worldly security, but the faithful presence of God.

 

In the Gospel, Jesus repeats this command three times: “Do not be afraid” (Mt 10:26, 28, 31). At the same time, he never promised his followers a life without difficulties. He sends them into a world that may reject them and persecute them. The Christian life is not the absence of the cross. Certainly, we never carry the cross alone. Jesus gives his disciples a deeper reason not to fear. He says that even the sparrows are under the care of the heavenly Father and that even the hairs of our heads are counted (Mt 10:29:31). This beautiful image reveals the tenderness of God. We are not forgotten but rather precious. The God who created the stars and planets also knows our names, our struggles, our tears, and our hopes. Therefore, the Christian does not deny suffering but faces it with hope because Christ has already overcome the world.

 

Jesus calls us not to be afraid of speaking the truth, to forgive, to defend the dignity of every human person, especially the poor and vulnerable, and to live our faith even when it is unpopular. As Magnifica Humanitas reminds us, authentic human flourishing is rooted not in self-sufficiency but in communion with God and others. The world may offer temporary securities, but only God can give the lasting peace that removes fear from our hearts. Perhaps today each one of us comes to this Eucharist carrying some personal fear – fear about our health, our family, our future, our vocation, our failures, or our uncertainties. Jesus speaks to each one of us personally: “Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Our fears are real, but the presence of God and the dignity he has bestowed upon us are greater than our fears.

 

Let us therefore leave this Eucharistic celebration with the faith of Jeremiah, who said: “The Lord is with me like a mighty champion.” Let us entrust our worries to Christ, who conquered sin and death. May we become people who move from fear to faith, from anxiety to hope, and from isolation to communion with God and with one another.

 

“Save us, Lord! We are in danger; O God, give the command, and there will be peace”