12th sunday-A

12th Sunday in Ordinary time-A 

Once an older lady who was flying first time, got so afraid though four bishops were sitting behind her. As the flight took off, she opened her eyes and saw out the window, one of the four engines broke loose and disappeared into the clouds. She began to scream saying, "We are all going to die. We are all going to die". One of the flight attends came and said, "Please don't be afraid, we can land safely with three engines besides we have four bishops to pray for us". The older lady said, "I would rather have four engines and three bishops".  

We are all afraid of so many things. There are people afraid of living and others dying. There are people afraid of being in a crowed and others being alone. There are people afraid of talking about their religion and others not talking about their religion. Fear is crowding us each and every day.  

But on the other hand, Christ our Lord is inviting us not to be afraid of proclaiming the Good News of salvation. 

During the time of Emperor Nero, the whole city of Rome was set on fire.  And everyone knew that the emperor himself set the city on fire, he blamed the followers of Christ and many innocent Christians were dragged from their homes and were put to death in unspeakable ways. Those innocent Christians witnessed Christ boldly. St. Tertullian says that the blood of  martyrs are the seeds of Christianity. 

When an holy man was dragged and was combed his flesh with iron comb. He was praying to Jesus and others were asking him where he got the courage to witness Christ and he said, "I love the Lord with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and now I want to love Him with my life".  

Today's gospel gives us three reasons why we should not be afraid.  

It’s because those who go against the believers of Christ cannot succeed at all. And God will expose their evil plan and deeds. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered.  

Today the mortality rate is 100 percent. Yes, everybody will die. So we should not be afraid of those who stop us from loving Christ the Messiah. 

And Christ asks us not to be afraid of our enemies or opponents, it's because  those who kill the body cannot kill the spirit. The immortality rate is also hundred percent. Those who do good will enter into the father's house and others for everlasting punishment.  

When St. Chrysostom was told if he did not renounce his faith, the emperor would have him banished from his kingdom. Chrysostom said, "I am not afraid because the whole world is the kingdom of my father". Then the emperor said, "I will take away your life". The saint said, "you cannot. My life is hid with Christ in God".  We then will take away all your possession. The saint responded saying, "you cannot. My treasure is in heaven where my heart is" The king could not do anything to him. The fearlessness of Chrysostom changed the mind of the emperor. 

In today's gospel, Christ our Lord says that we should not be afraid of preaching the Good News of salvation to all. It's because God's compassionate love is always with us and we are more important than many...many sparrows.  

Conclusion: Everyone who acknowledges Christ before humans, Christ will acknowledge that person before His heavenly Father and if we deny him, then He will also deny us.  

So let us proclaim the love and kindness of Christ; let us proclaim his compassion and mercy to those who are away from Him. Amen,