GOSPEL POWER | JULY 10, 2021 | SATURDAY | 14th Week in Ordinary Time

 Gospel: Mt 10: 24 - 33

Jesus said to the Twelve, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”

Reflection

Body and soul refer to the exterior and interior dimensions  of a human being, hence the entire person. Only God  possesses total power over anyone. Nothing and no one is to  be feared, but God alone. But this fear of God is not dread of harm, for  God who created everything out of love will never wish his creatures  harm. In fact, the seemingly exaggerated image of having every strand  of our hairs accounted for is an expression of God’s abiding care as  a gracious Father. Rather, the so-called fear of God is reverence—a positive disposition that is identified as the beginning of wisdom (Prov  9:10). For when we acknowledge God’s loving supremacy, then we  learn to submit to God’s benevolent will and so fulfill the purpose of  our existence

Prayer

Lord Jesus, inspire in us reverential fear of God and let that banish all  other imaginary causes of fear. Amen