Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Many of you know I’m traveling to World Youth Day in Portugal in a few weeks. While I’m super excited about the pilgrimage itself, one thing I’m dreading is the airport. It’ll be packed with travelers — pilgrims from our own group, included.
After hopping off the bus, checking our bags, and shuffling our way through a long line of anxious passengers, each of us will have to go through that “narrow gate” of security.
Inevitably, there will be a TSA agent there reminding us to empty our pockets, remove your jackets, belts, and shoes, and to place our luggage on the conveyor belt before walking through the metal detector.
That “narrow gate” has no room for our luggage; we ourselves can barely fit!
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Isn’t that also appropriate image for life?
We’re all just passing through. In the end, each of us will make our way through that “narrow gate” of death … with none of our possessions in tow.
All we can take with us are the good works we’ve done for others, memories of our loved ones, and the faith we’ve nurtured along the way.
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So, what acts of charity will I bring? What memories have I made? How deep is the faith I’ve nurtured?
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“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,” Jesus says, “for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
Only those who realize what matters most: love of God and love of neighbor. That’s all that remains in the end – not the things that can be seen, but those that are felt by the heart.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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(We continue with our week-long faith formation summer program).
Do you like the taste of watermelon?
To me, it tastes like juicy, sweet Styrofoam that magically melts in your mouth.
There’s only one thing you must remember: when biting into a slice of watermelon, always spit out the seeds. I remember thinking as a kid that, if I ate one of the seeds, then a watermelon would start growing in my stomach!
Of course, that isn’t true. But the advice is still helpful: when eating watermelon, spit out the seeds.
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We all have “seeds” inside of us. Not in the literal sense of those dark grainy kernels, but things we want to get rid of.
Perhaps I have a temper. Maybe I think or say things on occasion that aren’t nice. Maybe I can be selfish; I struggle with sharing my time, talent, and favorite things with my brothers and sisters.
We can also spot these “seeds” in other people. We notice things about them that we don’t like.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to stop judging – stop looking at the “seeds” inside ourselves and inside of other people. Focus on what is good, instead.
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Can you think of something you like about yourself? And something you like about your neighbor or friend?
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May we treat ourselves and those around us like a slice of watermelon – focusing not on the “seeds,” but on what is good. “Stop judging,” the Lord says, “then you will see clearly.”
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Image credits: (1) Medium (2) Good Housekeeping (3) Forum Novelties Watermelon Costume, Amazon.com
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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What is one of the most common sayings in the bible?
“Do not be afraid.”
It appears more than 100 times – three of which occur in today’s Gospel.
Jesus is sending his disciples out into the world to continue his ministry, and he knows the first hurdle they must overcome is fear.
The disciples are not afraid of following Jesus; they marvel at his power and bask in his fame. What they areafraid of is being his witnesses – of going out and preaching the Gospel to all nations.
The same is often true of us.
We love Jesus. We enjoy listening to him and learning from him. But when our faith moves from a private to a public sphere, we can become afraid – afraid of speaking out; afraid of stepping into the unknown; afraid of placing our fate in God’s hands.
“Do not be afraid,” Jesus says, “every hair on your head is counted; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
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Consider a few other moments in the New Testament when this phrase – “do not be afraid” – occurs.
These are some of the first words spoken by the Angel Gabriel to Mary when he reveals God’s plan for her. Reading her heart, Gabriel says to Mary, “Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.”
After accepting God’s plan, Mary is at peace as she becomes the Mother of God.
Or the first time the disciples are without Jesus. A storm breaks out on the Sea of Galilee – a storm so strong that these professional fishermen fear they are drowning! Suddenly, they see Jesus walking on the water towards them, mistaking him for a ghost.
Approaching them on the waves, Jesus says to them, “Do not be afraid.” Then he stills the sea and calms their fears.
And at the Last Supper, the night before Jesus’ death, he tells his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” To be “troubled” meant to be overwhelmed by the fear of death. The Lord will no longer be with them physically. Change is coming.
But so is the Holy Spirit.
Do not be afraid.
And, finally, when the tomb was empty that first Easter morning, the angels say to a tearful Mary Magdalene, “Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus, but he has been raised from the dead.”
After seeing him, Mary runs off to share the Good News of the resurrection with the other disciples who are still afraid, hiding in Jerusalem.
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In the bible, God is constantly comforting people as they face their fears. So, what am I afraid of?
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It could be something physical like spiders or snakes.
But then there’s a deeper, more subtle type of fear that can influence – even control – our decisions. It could be the fear of rejection; failure; loneliness; loss; or losing control.
When not brought to God in prayer, these fears can stifle us. Think about the disciples in today’s Gospel. Jesus knows they’re afraid. They’re terrified of stepping out into the unknown. How can they journey without him physically by their side?
“Do not be afraid,” he says, “every hair on your head is counted; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Meaning, God will be watching over them at every little step.
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Just as the phrase, “do not be afraid,” appears more than 100 times in the bible, so does the word, “trust.”
As it’s written in the Book of Proverbs, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Trust in the Lord and he will act.”
God can – and will – calm our hearts, just as he calmed the waters in Galilee.
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It’s a lesson Mary, the disciples, and every Christian needs to learn. At times we’re all afraid. But God is with us, inviting us to place ourselves in his hands; every hair on our head is counted. We are worth more than many sparrows.
As Jesus says at the end of the Gospels, “Do not be afraid. I have overcome the world.”
