For I hear many whispering: “Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. “Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him.” But the Lord is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonour will never be forgotten. O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned- sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.
Second reading Romans 5:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples, “Have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”
Reflection
Reflection
By Carlo Alexis R. Malaluan
No Fear. This is the theme of one of the recollections I have given to members of the police force. Yes, you have read it right – for the policemen and women. Ironically, I know, they knew more about fear and courage than I know. As if it is I who is the one who is in need of lecturing.
We do not want to experience the helpless and catatonic feeling of fear. We don’t want to feel numb and uncertain. We don’t want to experience anxiety and worry. In the First Reading, we can see the Prophet Jeremiah being engulfed with fear. He was anxious and deeply concerned as if fear slowly eats him alive. But amidst the great terror, there is only one thing that kept him going: the thought of God. He knew that God is greater, bigger, and even more powerful than his fear. God came to his rescue. Saint Paul in his Letter to the Romans provides for us a very good explanation. Fear is the product of sin. Terror entered into the world and destroyed the security of man. But Christ came down to earth, to restore all things. Fear none, he assures us in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows. True enough, if God could take care of the birds flying in the sky, how much more would he look after the creature fashioned after His own image and likeness? Faith is bigger than fear. Fear none.
When was the last time you have experienced a “mini heart attack”? When was the last time you have been so afraid? Was it because of the dark? Was it because of the uncertainties of the future? Was it because of a bad news? Jesus Christ, assures us. Do not be afraid. I am in control. When fear slowly creeps in, and takes over our life, we know what to do. Christ told us what to do. We are not to be conquered by fear but out of that fear, faith blossoms. When we are afraid of the dark, Christ is our light. When there are uncertainties, Christ is certain. When we received a bad news, Christ is the good news that we proclaim.
One interesting trivia, I have read a few months ago, that “Fear not” was mentioned in the Bible for 365 times. That’s a good number of reminder that you can carry with you in 365 days of the year!
No Fear. This is the theme of one of the recollections I have given to members of the police force. Yes, you have read it right – for the policemen and women. Ironically, I know, they knew more about fear and courage than I know. As if it is I who is the one who is in need of lecturing.
We do not want to experience the helpless and catatonic feeling of fear. We don’t want to feel numb and uncertain. We don’t want to experience anxiety and worry. In the First Reading, we can see the Prophet Jeremiah being engulfed with fear. He was anxious and deeply concerned as if fear slowly eats him alive. But amidst the great terror, there is only one thing that kept him going: the thought of God. He knew that God is greater, bigger, and even more powerful than his fear. God came to his rescue. Saint Paul in his Letter to the Romans provides for us a very good explanation. Fear is the product of sin. Terror entered into the world and destroyed the security of man. But Christ came down to earth, to restore all things. Fear none, he assures us in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows. True enough, if God could take care of the birds flying in the sky, how much more would he look after the creature fashioned after His own image and likeness? Faith is bigger than fear. Fear none.
When was the last time you have experienced a “mini heart attack”? When was the last time you have been so afraid? Was it because of the dark? Was it because of the uncertainties of the future? Was it because of a bad news? Jesus Christ, assures us. Do not be afraid. I am in control. When fear slowly creeps in, and takes over our life, we know what to do. Christ told us what to do. We are not to be conquered by fear but out of that fear, faith blossoms. When we are afraid of the dark, Christ is our light. When there are uncertainties, Christ is certain. When we received a bad news, Christ is the good news that we proclaim.
One interesting trivia, I have read a few months ago, that “Fear not” was mentioned in the Bible for 365 times. That’s a good number of reminder that you can carry with you in 365 days of the year!
Prayer
O GOD OF FAITH! Rekindle in our hearts the burning faith in You. May we not be afraid as the waves of life toss our boat ever assured that You are the Captain of the Ship. May we place our confidence and trust in Your unfailing love. Amen.
O GOD OF FAITH! Rekindle in our hearts the burning faith in You. May we not be afraid as the waves of life toss our boat ever assured that You are the Captain of the Ship. May we place our confidence and trust in Your unfailing love. Amen.
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