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.”
BACKGROUNDER
Fear is one of the most basic human emotions, motivating how we act, profoundly, and often inexplicably. When we are subject to fear we may make bad decisions. According to psychologists, we tend toward fight (get aggressive), flight (avoid the object of our fear), or freeze (remain passive) when we are afraid. Perhaps this human wisdom helps us to understand why Jesus tells us so much about fear.
It’s worth noting that fear may be helpful. God gave us the ability to feel fear. We can feel fear because we face danger, whether imminent or long-term; fear allows us to notice the danger. If we aren’t overcome by fear we can respond well to the challenge we face. But if we didn’t have any fear we would miss the things that we need to see.
Jesus is instructing the Twelve, the leaders of his small group of disciples, because he is sending out on mission to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom. Because the mission is dangerous, they will face fear. Even if we aren’t on mission for Jesus, we all face fear.
Jesus speaks of three kinds of fear. First, he says to fear no one. Why? Because, he says, the truth cannot be concealed or kept secret. When powerful people try to suppress the truth, they may threaten people who speak it. The Twelve can go forward confidently because their witness to the truth will be vindicated.
Second, Jesus tells them to speak the truth they have heard from him. Jesus taught them profound truths about God and his ways in the intimacy of friendship, which he likens to darkness or a whisper. Now, Jesus says, these mysteries need to be proclaimed for all to hear. They will face the pressure of evil forces coming against them, but they need not fear physical threat. Even those who can kill them cannot touch their souls, provided they stay faithful to Jesus.
Finally, Jesus’s reassurance is based on what he tells them about his Father. Amazingly, he calls God, “your Father”, because we are all loved by God as his children. Our Father cares us about every little thing about us – even the hairs on our heads! We need not fear because of the Father who loves us no matter what.
We all deal with fear. Today Jesus offers the ultimate reason to “Fear no one”. When we put our faith in him, we will be loved and protected against all possible dangers.