In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks a word that every human heart needs to hear: “Do not be afraid.” He repeats this message several times because he knows how easily fear enters our lives. Fear is one of the most common human experiences. We fear illness, uncertainty, failure, loneliness, old age, and death. We fear for our families, our future, and the world around us. In our own time, many people live with anxiety because of wars, economic difficulties, social tensions, and personal struggles. Jesus does not ignore these realities. He does not pretend that suffering does not exist. Instead, he speaks directly into our fears and says: “Do not be afraid.” His words are not simply an encouragement to be brave; they are an invitation to place our trust in God.
The reason Jesus gives for this confidence is remarkable. He tells us that nothing escapes the attention of our heavenly Father. Even the sparrows, which were considered among the least valuable of creatures, are known and cared for by God. Then Jesus adds: “You are worth more than many sparrows.” God knows us personally. He knows our joys and our sorrows, our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows our hopes, our disappointments, and even the fears that we hide from others. Jesus says that even the hairs of our head have all been counted. This image teaches us that God’s knowledge of us is complete and loving. We are not anonymous individuals lost in a vast universe. We are children of the Father. Before we speak, he knows our needs. Before we call upon him, he already looks upon us with love.
This truth leads us to a second conviction: God not only knows us; he also guides our lives. We often see only a small part of the road before us. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. We make plans, but circumstances change. We seek security, but many things remain beyond our control. Yet faith teaches us that our lives are not governed by chance. God remains Lord of history and Lord of our personal journey. This does not mean that we are spared difficulties. The disciples themselves experienced persecution and suffering. Jesus himself knew anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane and pain on the cross. But through everything he entrusted himself to the Father. Christian faith is not the certainty that nothing difficult will happen; it is the certainty that God remains with us in every situation.
For this reason, Jesus calls his disciples to witness without fear. “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” Faith is not meant to remain hidden. The Christian is called to live openly as a disciple of Christ. In many parts of the world this requires great courage. Yet even in our daily lives we are often tempted to remain silent about our faith, afraid of what others may think. The Gospel reminds us that our deepest identity comes not from the opinions of others but from our relationship with Christ. When we belong to him, we need not seek our security in human approval. Our confidence rests in the love of God.
Today the Lord invites us to place all our fears into his hands. We do not overcome fear by our own strength alone. We overcome it by trusting in the One who knows us perfectly, governs our lives wisely, and loves us completely. The saints understood this truth. They were not people without fears; they were people who entrusted their fears to God. Let us do the same. Let us bring before the Lord our worries, our uncertainties, and our burdens. Then we will hear once again the words of Christ spoken to our hearts: “Do not be afraid.” For the Father watches over us, Christ walks beside us, and the Holy Spirit strengthens us every day.
Fr. Mathew Charthakuzhiyil