In the Gospel of the Mass
(Matt 10:26-33) Our Lord tells us not to be afraid, but to live as children
of God. At times we come across people who are tormented and overwhelmed by the
hardships that life brings with it. The adverse circumstances and the obstacles
seem only to grow when one relies on human resources alone in order to overcome
them.
We also frequently meet Christians who
seem to be ashamed of speaking clearly about God, of saying no to falsehood
and, whenever necessary, of showing themselves to be faithful disciples of
Christ. They are afraid of what people will say, of a critical remark, of going
against the current or of drawing attention to themselves. Is it possible for a
Christian not to draw attention to himself in a pagan environment, where so
often economic values are the supreme values?
Jesus tells us not to be concerned
about possible slander or criticism. Do not be afraid of men, for everything
that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear.
What a shame if it were to be discovered that we were afraid of proclaiming to
the four corners of the world the truth that God has entrusted to us! What I
say to you in the dark, tell it in the daylight; what you hear in whispers,
proclaim from the housetops. At times we will keep silent because that is the
best thing to do, for reasons of supernatural prudence, or charity, but never
out of fear or cowardice.
Is it possible for a Christian not
to draw attention to himself in a pagan environment, where so often economic
values are the supreme values?
We Christians are not friends of
darkness and hidden corners; we are friends of light, of openness in our lives
and in our words. The times we live in are such that we need to proclaim the
truth clearly. Falsehood and confusion are leading many souls astray. It seems
absurd, but at times even good doctrine, the moral norms of behavior – following
one’s conscience in our work and in the demands of married life, common sense
itself – are held in less esteem than some scandalous, erroneous doctrine,
which is held to be ‘advanced’ or tinged with a progressive hue.
We shouldn’t be afraid of losing the
gloss of a superficial prestige, or of being criticized or even slandered
because we go against the current or what happens to be fashionable. If anyone
declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him
in the presence of my Father in heaven, Our Lord says. He rewards us fully for
all those times when people do not understand us because we try to live
bravely, with holy daring, in a world which is frequently unable to understand
anything except purely material values.
I consider,
says Saint
Paul,
that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory
that is to be revealed to us (Rom 8:18). Therefore, Saint Cyprian comments,
who would not make the effort to achieve such great glory, to become a friend
of God, to possess Christ immediately, to receive the divine rewards after the
anguish and torments of the earth? If for the soldiers of this world it is
glorious to return home after humbling the enemy, how much more glorious and
praiseworthy will it be to return in triumph to heaven once the devil is
overcome...; to bear aloft the signs of victory...; to be seated at God’s side
when He comes in judgment, be co-heir with Christ, to rank with the angels, and
with the Patriarchs, the Apostles and the Prophets; to rejoice in the
possession of the Kingdom of Heaven...? (St Cyprian, Letter to Fortunatus, 13). # # #
With
permission from Scepter UK. Short excerpt from IN
CONVERSATION WITH GOD by Francis Fernandez. Available at SinagTala or Totus Bookstore 723-4326 or at www.totusbookstore.cominfo@totusbookstore.com
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