“And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna” (Mt 10:28).
Jesus is offering his words to his apostles before he is going to send them out on mission. He knows the persecutions they will face, because he has and will face worse, especially with his own crucifixion. And yet, even in the face of these attitudes of rejection, false accusations, ridicule, Jesus is encouraging them to not be afraid of even those “who kill the body“. Most of us hearing this today would understand this line of thought. The next line though could be a bit of a head scratcher though.
“Be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” Those words I am sure gave the disciples pause and more so us today. Jesus is speaking about the “one”, his Father, and we are to be afraid of him? Yes, but not from the perspective that God is a vengeful egomaniac, dictatorial, tyrant. The fear Jesus is talking about is one of reality and awe. God is beyond the reality of the finite, and encounters with him throughout Sacred Scripture have been referenced to being one of “awe and wonder”. Because of the blinding, radiance of divinity, the infinite nature, and other worldliness of a transcendent God.
Jesus is following in the tradition of the Law and the prophets, like the prophet of Isaiah who said, “Do not call conspiracy what this people calls conspiracy, nor fear what they fear, nor feel dread. But conspire with the LORD of hosts; he shall be your fear, he shall be your dread” (Isaiah 8:12-13). Isaiah and Jesus are encouraging us not to fear the things of this world no matter how horrific and terrifying this fallen world can be. This is because no matter the hardness and suffering of this life, it is only temporary, even death does not have the final say.
A holy fear, “is a rational awe, a rational fear of offending God, a fear of sinning against the righteous and holy God, such that you would be separated from him, that you would break covenant with him, that you would break your relationship with him. That’s the fear of the Lord that the Old Testament says is actually the beginning of wisdom.” Dr. Brant Pitre continues this important perspective, “the fear grows out of love… the fear of offending God because he is so good, because he is so holy, because he’s a loving father and also because sinning against him means being separated from him forever in hell.”
Jesus is helping us to make a clear choice that will have eternal consequences. We can save our lives for the immediate situation, compromise or deny our faith, or we can have the courage to live our faith with each breath, thought, word and action. Denying God can start us on a path that will lead to a second death. Accepting and proclaiming God will start us on the path that will lead to eternal life.
Jesus wants to make sure that his listeners and we still hearing and reading his words today get the important nuance. Even though God does not need us, he loves us into existence and thirsts and hungers for our love, and seeks to sustain us with his love. He does not seek to love us for his sake but for ours! He knows what our deepest hopes and desires are because he created us. God’s greatest joy is not that we merely exist, God’s greatest joy is that we will be fully alive.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Mt 10:29-31).
Each one of us is “worth more than many sparrows” because we are his beloved daughters and sons created in his image, to be loved and to love in return. What may seem insignificant to his hearers, two small sparrows, Jesus is saying has great significance to God. What has greater significance still is our humanity, he knows us so intimately, each hair on our head is counted, each thought is heard. God weeps with us in our sorrow and rejoices in our joys.
It was in the parallel verses to today’s Gospel from Matthew found in Luke 12:2-9, that I first remember God speaking to me in my late teens. I had returned home from a high school party. I remember feeling bored and not fitting in. I was at a place of wondering what direction my life would lead as graduation loomed on the horizon. I opened my Bible for the first time for some guidance and read the verses in Luke above.
As I read, “Be not afraid,” I paused. God continued on in the quiet of my heart by telling me that I would not win the lottery, but that he would provide work. In essence, if I trusted in him, he would take care of me. God has remained true to his word over these past forty plus years. Life hasn’t been perfect, and there have been some rough moments, especially over the past seven, but through it all, God has not only consistently provided a means for me to make a living, but more importantly, I have felt his comfort, his guidance, and above all his quiet, rock-solid presence, especially during times when I did not feel that I had the strength to go on.
No matter what you may be struggling with, what may be troubling you, or even feeling the pressures of witnessing your faith, as you are reading these words, don’t give in to the mind storm, because we are never alone. As the emotions swirl, breathe. Breathe slow from your stomach, in and out, and then experience the emotions, assess where they are in your body and then breathe there. As our breath slows, our body feels safe and knows how to heal, and we can identify the thoughts behind each of the emotions.
As we begin to intentionally feel and become aware of our thoughts, we can ask Jesus to reveal the truth of those thoughts. As we breathe, we can choose to receive and abide in his love. When Jesus says that even all "the hairs of your head are counted", he is assuring us that God knows each and every one of us that intimately, that closely. He knows us better than we know ourselves and ultimately, that he is with us for the long haul, in this life and into eternity. In bringing our concerns, worries, and fears to Jesus, he receives them and offers us his love, mercy, healing, and strength.
In our faithfulness to trust and bring our fears to God, we are heard. The pressures then to conform to this world aren’t so tantalizing. Having been seen, heard, forgiven, and loved, we are no longer afraid. We can witness, even when pressured, the love we have received. Through the light and love of Jesus, we see more clearly. We can choose to sin and turn away from God for temporary pleasure, saving face or even our lives, but in doing so, lose our soul. In acknowledging Jesus before others, without counting the cost, even our lives, we will experience that death doesn’t have the final answer, Jesus does, and so gain our life for eternity. With each thought, word, and action, the choice is ours.
Photo: St. Micheal the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil…
Dr. Brant Pitre reflection, Catholic Productions, 12th Week of Ordinary Time, Year A
Spiritual Stepping Stones 