Gospel reading: Lk 12:8-12
JESUS said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
REFLECTIONS: Do not worry about what you are to say
Since hypocrites seek human approval, their great fear is disapproval after they have been discovered and exposed as vain, empty, or “unclean.” Jesus relativizes the fear of human disapproval with something higher – “the fear of God.” And nothing is hidden in the eyes of God. The fear of someone who can kill only the body and nothing more cannot compare with the fear of God who can utterly and completely destroy.
For the disciples, fear of God turns to trust and confidence in him. As Jesus said earlier (12:6-7), if God takes care of “cheap” things, how much more will God care for the disciples and protect them for giving testimony to Jesus. Five sparrows may be worth only two small coins (Greek assarion, the smallest denomination of coins then), but they do not escape the notice of God. The disciples matter more than birds. On the other hand, “counting the hairs on the head” is colloquialism for the protection of one on God’s side. It is a promise that no harm will come to a person. Solomon sent this message concerning his brother Adonijah, “If he proves worthy, not a hair of his shall fall to the ground” (1 Kgs 1:52).
The confession of Jesus before people will be matched at the judgment when the Son of Man comes in glory, when the righteous will be acknowledged before the angels of God.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publish[email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
