Do Not Be Afraid

July 12: Saturday of Week 14 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 93:1-2, 5; Matthew 10:24-33

To surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

Do Not Be Afraid

“Whom shall I send? “Here I am,” I said; “send me!” Isaiah 6:8.

Three times in the Gospel Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” First, because the disciple should expect to be treated like the teacher. Second, because those who kill the body can’t kill the soul. Third, because nothing can happen without our Father’s knowledge and consent.

Isaiah was afraid because he was “a man of unclean lips.” An angel touched his lips with a burning coal from the altar, and said, “Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed.”

Then, when the Lord said, “Whom shall I send?” he answered: “Here I am; send me!”

Can we guess that the fire in that coal was divine love? Lips touched by love and speaking love can speak for God. No other lips can.

No one speaking love need be afraid, because that is what Jesus did. Love can survive anything. Love “bears, believes, hopes and endures all things. Love never ends” (see 1Corinthians 13:1). Jesus promised, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” That settles all three fears.

And if we lack confidence, Jesus says, “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send, will teach you everything” (John 14:23-26).

So do not be afraid.

PRAY: “Lord, touch my lips with love.”

PRACTICE: Think love, speak love, do love.