Gospel – Matthew 10:26-33
Jesus said to the Twelve:
“Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
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.
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.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father.”
Reflection on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
This Sunday is my parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary. Reading this gospel and thinking of that incredible milestone, I cannot but connect the two. Isn’t it true that we hear whispered the most important lessons, messages, and directives from our parents, and most often, those are the ones that stay with us the longest? They are the ones we find ourselves repeating to others because we want to spread the wisdom and love that was given to us. And don’t our parents seem to always have all the answers, even when we resist their advice? I know that now, with my own children, as they ignore even the simplest guiding words, their entire young existence seems to revolve around what I can provide for them. I think back, and I think of all that my parents have done for my brother’s, sister’s, and my own future. That they lived, not for themselves, but for us. For me, that is the ultimate teaching of the life of Christ and the love of God the Father. Complete knowledge of all, allowance of personal decision, but bringing us back into their loving arms no matter what. With parents, though, there is an apprehension about how life will turn out, and how their children will be safe, successful, and fulfilled. With God’s love, there should not be this apprehension. There should only be complete peace in knowing that, when one acts with love, without malice or selfishness, and with a vigilance towards those in need, the manifestation our faith will be clearly evident. As we all humbly journey towards this realization and manifestation, all we can do is gather the lessons, and proclaim them from the housetops.
Mr. Christopher Themistos – Principal
St. John’s College High School – Washington DC
St. John Baptist de La Salle…Pray for us!
Live Jesus in our hearts…Forever!