Words of Spirit and Life

Theme: PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS EVEN IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION AND DEATH

Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 68:8-10. 14. 17. 33-35. R/ v. 14; Romans 5:12-15
Matthew 10:26-33

1. Today is the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. The readings today tell us to proclaim the good news even in the face of persecution and death, and more importantly, the readings today tell us that the Lord will deliver and save us, and through us the Lord will deliver and save the whole world!
The gospel today tells us to proclaim the good news even in the face of persecution and death, and the Lord will deliver and save us! Thus we read in the gospel: proclaim the good news from the house-tops!
Do not fear those who can only kill the body; fear him more who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Are sparrows not sold two for a penny, yet your Father takes care of them. How much more will the Father take care of you who are worth more than hundreds of sparrows! In fact every hair of your head has been counted by your Father in heaven!
He who acknowledges me in the presence of men I will acknowledge in the presence of my Father. He who denies me in the presence of men, I will deny in the presence of my Father! In short, proclaim the good news even in the face of persecution and death!

2. The first reading follows the theme of the gospel. The first reading also tells us to proclaim the good news in the face of persecution and death, and more importantly, the first reading also tells us that the Lord will deliver and save us!
The first reading tells us that the prophet Jeremiah was persecuted for proclaiming the word of God! Jeremiah was a prophet in the 7th and 6th century BC in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He was persecuted for prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem and its people. But more importantly, the first reading tells us that the Lord will deliver and save Jeremiah! Thus we read in the first reading:
“Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.”! (Jr 20:13/SM)

3. The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. The responsorial psalm tells us to pray in the face of persecution and death, and more importantly, the responsorial psalm tells us that the Lord will answer our prayers!
The responsorial psalm has three stanzas. The first stanza tells us that the psalmist is being persecuted for serving the Lord. (Ps 68:8-10) But more importantly, the second stanza tells us that the psalmist prays to God for help. (Ps 68:14. 17) And most importantly, the third stanza tells us that the Lord will answer the prayer of the psalmist and deliver and save him! (Ps 68:33-35)
Thus the third stanza of the responsorial psalm: “The poor when they see it will be glad and God-seeking hearts will revive; for the Lord listens to the needy and does not spurn his servants in their chains. Let the heavens and the earth give him praise, the sea and all its living creatures.”! (Ps 68:33-35)
And thus the response of the responsorial psalm: “In your great love, answer me, O God.”! (Ps 68:14)

4. Jesus Christ proclaimed the good news in the face of persecution and death, but the Father delivered and saved him, and through him the Father delivered and saved the whole world!
Thus the second reading tells us of the “deliverance (of the whole world) from sin and death” (NJB): Sin entered the world through one man Adam and through sin death. More importantly, grace entered the world through one man Jesus Christ and through grace life! Most importantly, the grace of Jesus Christ far outweighed the sin of Adam, so much so that the life of grace is much better than even the life before sin!!
Thus we sing the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) on Easter Vigil Night: “O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!”

5. Today in the Eucharist, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we eat his body and drink his blood, and the Risen Lord will give us the Holy Spirit, and send us out into the world to proclaim the good news, even in the face of persecution and death, and the Lord will deliver and save us, and through us, the Lord will deliver and save the whole world! This is the good news of the Lord!

Amen!