Go Out and Preach the Gospel

Do Not Be Afraid

The second part of Jesus’ instruction to the disciples as they set out for their mission, is the text of the Gospel today. The opening sentence sets the tone for the disciples’ mission: Do not be afraid – a phrase which is repeated twice more in this Gospel passage.

The first reading from the Old Testament book of the prophet Jeremiah reflects Jeremiah’s experience of rejection – no one wants to hear the message God has called him to give. In fact, they want to kill him. Jeremiah sounds desperate and afraid. But then the reading turns into a prayer of confidence and trust in God’s companionship and spiritual protection – God and Jeremiah will win out.

Preaching in the name of God is a risky and frightening business, as Jesus knows. So, he urges the disciples not to be afraid of small beginnings, of those who can kill only the body, or that God would abandon them. He reminds them that God is always mindful of them and accompanies them on their mission. He urges them to be brave and bold in proclaiming the truth about God and in confessing their belief in Jesus before others.

Matthew’s audience, like Jesus, Jeremiah and the disciples, knew all about persecution and rejection. Their question is also ours: if we allow fear to silence us, how will the Good News of Jesus Christ ever be heard in the world? If we don’t speak, who will? If we don’t act, who will?

It is not really a matter of talking at people and quoting at length from the Bible. As St Francis of Assisi said, ‘Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words’.

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