Gospel LK 12:1-7
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”
Reflection…
This
passage seems to focus on fear. It
begins with a warning. Beware of the
leaven and the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
The leaven is dough leftover from the bread which has spoiled or gone
bad. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees
would be their appearing to be good but secretly hiding what they don’t want
others to see.
So,
how does this relate to us? We all know
or know of people who are not what they seem.
They seem like they are nice, kind, and caring in our presence, but as
soon as they turn away, they are different.
They speak unkindly, or their actions prove to be insincere. We fear being in their company; we are
uncomfortable around their dishonesty. As
a kid, my mother always told me if I associated with people who seemed nice but
were treating others unkindly or participating in questionable behaviors,
others may assume that I was the same. I
would be thought to be like them by association. I learned early on that I
wanted to be perceived based on my own actions, not on the actions of others. Like my mother, Jesus is warning us to be
aware of these people too.
The
second part of the passage still seems to be talking about fear. We feel fear when we allow the actions of
others to influence us and make us feel less than worthy. We allow them to make
us feel unhappy; they make us feel badly; they take so much from us. The passage is telling us that those people are
not even worthy of the time and energy it takes us to fear them. Do not give them the power.
Devote
your energy to loving and respecting God.
He offers us encouragement. He
says we are worthy, regardless of what others say or how they make us feel. Do not be afraid. Do not give in to the fear others want us to
feel. Love God. He is worth it. You are worth it.
Prayer…
Dear
God, Thank you for making us worthy of your love. Thank you for giving us the graces to be able
to overcome our fears. The strength you
provide will allow us to do your work on earth until we are one day with you in
heaven. Amen
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