Be Not Afraid

Be Not Afraid
A reflection for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June is World Wide Pride Month
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Mercy_Franciscans

Have you ever felt afraid, unwanted and rejected? We all have at one time or another.
This weeks Gospel tells us: :"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 Gahanna”. Who is that? It is Satan who uses fear, rejection and the sense that you are alone to turn you against God.
There are some groups of people who have experienced some of the worst form of rejection from people because of how God created them. I am talking about the GLBT community, the handicapped, and people of color and immigrants to a new country.
The pain is even greater when the people who reject you are your parents, relatives and friends. What we must remember is that even Christ was rejected by both family, and neighbors.
I myself, have experienced rejection from family and friends because I disagree with the way churches have treated the children of God because God created them with a same sex attraction.
We must remember that we are never completely alone. Holy Scripture has many passages that affirm that. My personal favorite is; “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
Today’s Gospel also explains that God considers each of His children far more precious than sparrows whom God protects and is completely aware of their existence with these words; “So do not be afraid; you are worth more than sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my Heavenly Father”.
We also must remember that to trust completely in, and follow Christ faithfully is to experience rejection by those who often feel they are superior because of a misguided belief they know God‘s will better than God does Himself.
Jesus Christ, The only begotten Son of God, was rejected by the chief priests of His religion and eventually sentenced to die because they feared that His teachings would undermine the faith. Christ, as we know, became the foundation stone of all Christian Religions.
“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone ; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Matthew 21:42) ( Mark 12:10)
If you live your life completely and faithfully as Christ instructed us you will experience rejection because what Christ taught is contrary to the popular conception of our society.
Today’s popular concept is one of self gratification, greed, and oppression of those who disagree with Christ’s New Commandment; "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34)
To love someone is to never reject them, to always forgive them, to have compassion for those in need and those that others reject.
If we believe in and follow Christ and live our life not just for ourselves but with compassion, understanding and true brotherhood for all God’s children we are living it as Christ lived His and most certainly we will be rejected by many.
We have been told “But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation' (Luke 17:25) and so too will we, who attempt to follow Christ will be rejected by our generation.
Keep in mind that everything God created, especially you, is precious and good in God’s eyes as we are told in 1 Timothy 4:4; “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving”
Do not be discouraged and feel that God does not love you, He does. AMEN