IN THE MIDST OF EVIL, TRUST IN GOD AND DON’T GIVE UP.

As we celebrate the twelfth Sunday in ordinary time, the readings question us on what steps can we take to strengthen our faith and trust in God amidst trials and tribulations? In the face of this, some comforting words of the Lord comes to mind, “Wherever you go, I shall go; wherever you live, there shall I live…” These promises of God in Ruth 1:16 build our trust and confidence in God, who is ready to deliver us from all that threatens, and makes life difficult for us.

The first reading presents to us how God delivered the prophet Jeremiah from the deadly plots and hands of evil men. Jeremiah is a prophet who faced betrayal and attacks from trusted friends because of his prophesies. He had to bear the painful price to remain a faithful messenger of God, and on many occasions, he contemplated either giving up or changing God’s message. It has often been observed that Jeremiah’s doubts were never expressed in public. Outwardly, he was the firm, unyielding prophet of the Lord, conveying faithfully the divine will to his people. But when alone with God, the tensions of his position were revealed as the readings says, “I heard many whisperings. Denounce him!” (Jer. 20:10). However, he found out the impossibility of denying his call. Though it cost him much pain and humiliation, much sufferings and persecutions, he could not denounce God. He remained steadfast in his mission, demonstrating unwavering faith and trust in God. He realized that God was on his side and surely, He will not disappoint him, therefore his persecutors will stumble and they will not overcome him. This way, he was compelled to preach God’s word.

This could be the experience of many of us striving to remain faithful in living and preaching the word of God. We have sometimes been wearied in God’s service; we express these feelings when things do not work out well as we expect. In the midst of such experience, are we to denounce God or keep the flag of faith and trust flying? Jeremiah’s experience reminds us that our faith should not depend on external circumstances or the support of others, but on God. Some families and friends have promised to support us, but at a time failed us. They may even whisper statements of denouncing our mission to us. Men may fail us but God cannot fail us. I tell you this day, it will be greater pains and weariness to denounce God in the face of hardship, oppositions, betrayal or persecutions. We are all called not to give attention to that whispering voice urging us to give up on our good works, but to continue to speak God’s word against the evil in our time, in all spheres of life.

The second reading has some things in common with the first reading. While Jeremiah was innocent of the evil plotted against him as seen in the first reading, Paul in the second reading tells of the evil humanity inherited through Adam and Eve. While God delivered the innocent prophet Jeremiah from the plots and terrors of his enemies, Paul recounts how Christ delivered humanity from the terrors and shackles of death. Paul draws our attention to a very important aspect of our salvific history as related to sin and death. While Adam’s sin of disobedience brought death, Christ obedience brought us life. Just like Jeremiah was conscious of God’s presence with him in face of persecutions, we are called to be conscious of the grace and free gift we receive from Christ to overcome evil and persecutions in the world. The reading reminds us that in times of trials and tribulations, it is our unwavering trust in Christ’s redemptive sacrifice that sustains us and instills hope within us.

In the gospel, Christ preempt his disciples about the trials and persecutions they will encounter in course of their mission of spreading the Good News. In doing this, He made us realize that fear in the face of persecution is natural, but He says to us, “Have no fear of men; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known” (Mt 10:26). Evil people love darkness because it hides their evil deeds (Jn 3:19). They conspire in secret to thwart the good, but the Lord “will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness” (1 Cor. 4:5) and will vindicate the faithful.

Christ went further to say, “What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetop” (v. 27). Interestingly, while Jeremiah in the first reading tells us of the whispering sound to denounce God, of which he did not, Christ in the gospel urges his disciples to proclaim upon the housetop that which He had whispered to us. He wants his disciples to have confidence that truth would prevail, so they should go out and preach it with boldness. We are not to tiptoe around the truth in the fear of inviting persecution. If persecution or the threat of persecution makes us draw back from speaking and preaching God’s word, then in some measure Satan has won the victory. Shall we give room for Satan? No! His agents sit in some political powers and other sensitive offices that affects the righteous people, using their offices to threaten and inflict pains on others, in other to satisfy their selfish interest.

Christ is aware of our fears and the threat of death that can paralyzed us with the wicked plots of evil people around us. As the Lord of the living and the dead, He knows that physical death is not the end. Rather, it is a transition to eternity. Therefore, He charged us this day, “Do not to be afraid of those that can only destroy the body but cannot destroy the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell fire” (v. 28). With these words, He builds our hope and courage to fight against fears of evil people that parades themselves around us; and to remind us that our ultimate focus is not on temporal concern but on the salvation of our souls

Dear friends in Christ, we are called today to examine ourselves and know where we belong. Are we among those plotting evil in the world or among those standing to speak against it? You are called to speak against it without fear. Remember, evil will continue to triumph if good people like you remain silent. We are urged to have an unwavering faith and trust in God in the face of opposition and persecution. May God help us through Christ Our Lord. Amen!

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ