June 24, 2023

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Don’t Be Afraid”

Deacon Kevin O'Boyle

In an age when being a Catholic and practicing that faith in public is increasingly challenged and sometimes even threatening to the practitioner, our readings this week seem to give reassurance to those persons who remain faithful. Our US Bishops, in fact, have dedicated this week to preservation of Religious Freedom.

If your immediate response to that statement is, “Wait, I’m an American and we have Freedom of Religion,” so what is the issue here? Unfortunately, that first amendment right is under direct attack in multiple ways in our country today. Of course, no one goes around saying, “I’m taking away your Freedom of Religion.” What is being done is sadly much more insidious, and, unfortunately, threatens to be even more effective. What do I mean? Here in New Jersey, if I preach the biblical and long-term Church teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman, there are some that would accuse me of hate speech, and others who would sue bakers, photographers and other vendors that serve weddings for claiming closely held religious beliefs and refusing to serve same sex weddings. We do not hate anyone. We are called always to defend our faith with love toward those we disagree with. Hate the sin but love the sinner.

Any defense of the Right to Life in New Jersey is met with increasingly horrendous legislation that seems to seek to encourage and pay for abortions not just for our own citizens, but even those who are just passing through. Then there are the New Jersey rules that in many places require teachers who become aware of a student’s transgender aspirations to keep such information from the parents of that student, and help the student seek life changing surgery. And speaking of transgender, what about requirements of some employers, under threat of job action, that you must state your own pronouns reflecting your gender identity – like that identity is something you can change by will—sorry, there I go with possible hate speech again. Of course, then there are laws threatening medical professionals who wish to avoid doing procedures against their closely held religious beliefs. The long and short of this is that there are powers on the loose that would like to turn our 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion into a more limited Freedom of Worship, meaning that we can do whatever we want in our churches, but do not dare take our beliefs into the public square. So, what is it that our readings this weekend say to the faithful Catholic?

Our first reading from Jeremiah sets up a sense of the prophet surrounded by those who challenged the faith. But he realizes that the Lord is with him, and is assured that with the Lord with him, he cannot lose.

Our Second reading recalls the overabundance of grace from God given freely to those who follow Hin.

Finally, our Gospel message urges us not to be afraid. Comparing the sweet care God gives to a sparrow, we are reminded that we are much more valuable than sparrows. Jesus will acknowledge to the Father those who acknowledge Him; but will deny anyone who denies Him.

And so, where does that leave us, as we face modern threats to our faith? We are called to remember that the Lord will be with us in an overabundance of grace, and we cannot deny Him. We are called to fight for the truths we know with love, and to live our faith in the public square. It is not becoming easier these days, but if we abandon the fight, we will lose the war, and the precious rights our founding fathers sought to preserve for us. It is something to think about this week.

God Bless.