Fr Marco Lazzaron
ike the prophet Jeremiah, the disciples too, were gripped by fear. They became increasingly aware that the mission God had intended for them was exposing them to contempt and misunderstanding, bringing them ever closer to the possibility of failure.
At times, when we feel despised or threatened, it is as though a small part of us withdraws into the shadows. It is the perception of life becoming thinner, more fragile. In those moments we become aware of our vulnerability and our need for a gaze that recognizes us. The disciples experience fear, just as the prophet Jeremiah did, and they become a profound image of the spiritual life: not invincible heroes, but men marked by fear, fragility, and the suspicion that they may not succeed.
Scripture does not hide this truth; rather, it places it at the forefront in order to show how trust is truly born. Jeremiah feels the Lord beside him “like a mighty warrior”, and the disciples experience “the tender and loving presence of God, who, like a father, is attentive to small and fragile realities (G. Ravasi). Like Jeremiah, the disciples receive God’s consolation. They are called to an exodus from fear, certain of a presence that invites them to remain steadfast even when surrounded by noisy violence.
The temptation to become prey to fear is always strong when one is sent to proclaim the Kingdom as “sheep among wolves” (Mt 10:16). It is simply and terribly the temptation to “fear men,” that is, to fear a concrete threat that can even kill. The disciples, in fact, will need the courage to proclaim from the rooftops and not be ashamed of the Gospel. For this reason, Jesus prepares them through both example and teaching, so that they eventually come to understand:
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body” (2 Cor 4:8–10).
This almost indwelling presence of Jesus is prepared in today’s Gospel by a proclamation of liberation: “Do not be afraid.”
For the disciple of every age, prophecy is not only proclamation; it is also a work of purification, removing whatever prevents the Word from breathing. At times this means tearing down walls and opening horizons by proclaiming from the rooftops, mindful of the divine word that calls for trusting surrender: “Do not be afraid!”
PRAYER
Lord, when fear grips us, remain our strength. When we feel rejected, fragile, or threatened, grant us Your consolation that enlightens and transfigures. Tear down within us the walls of fear and make us prophets capable of trust, steadfast in Your presence that whispers: “Do not be afraid.” May Your light dwell in our choices, and may the Gospel be our parrhesia. Amen.