12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 21, 2026

Gospel: Mt. 10: 26-33

Fear is a theme running through our readings this Sunday. But they also show that fear is not an end in itself, not something to be nourish and fed; but it can be useful. I am reminded of the interior journey of a man who became Archbishop of El Salvador in a time when El Salvador was experiencing great stress and repression of ordinary people, especially indigenous people whose land and livelihoods had been taken from them.

When he was made Archbishop of El Salvador in 1997 he was a conservative. He was not really any longer with what the majority of his countrymen were experiencing. But he soon changed when he saw what was happening. After that realization, Sunday he preached at the Cathedral. His homilies so electrified the country that national affairs halted when he spoke from the altar. He made public the unspeakable crimes being committed by many agents of the government. He was under constant threat of death. Some of his best friends were murdered. Some bishops wished he would be more prudent. And still he would not be silenced. Nor would he go into hiding or exile. “At the first sight of danger the shepherd cannot run and leave the sheep to fend for themselves. I will stay with my people,” he said. According to Romero, it didn’t take courage. All it took was the understanding that his enemies dwelt in fear, and that as he was not afraid of them, they would have no power over him. They might be able to kill his body, but they would not and could not kill his soul. It cost something to be a disciple of Christ. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer would declare in World War II Germany, cheap grace is easy, but true grace is very costly.

Today the first reading and the gospel follow the same theme: To be a believer costs something. Jeremiah is persecuted almost to death for bearing witness of God’s word. The Lord had Jeremiah tell harsh words to the Israelites. God told them of defeat and failure if they did not change their ways. Others, however, said that Jeremiah was not telling the truth. He was then persecuted, imprisoned and ridiculed for following God’s command. What we hear today in the first reading is the suffering of Jeremiah for doing what the Lord said, and being his unpopular witness. Jeremiah is having to fall back on his absolute faith and trust in God at a time when all seems to be lost, as when he says, “But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion...’ God has become his rescuer. Maybe his prayer is like that of Mother Teresa of our day: “I know God will not give me anything I cannot handle. I just wish that God did not trust me so much.”

In the Gospel today, Jesus is warning the disciples that they must be fearless. They have heard much from Jesus in private, “what I say in darkness, what I whisper.” He is telling them that the time for learning is over. The time for getting used to his message is finished. Now is the time to put in into practice in “the light. to proclaim from the housetops.” They no longer are just trying to understand what Jesus said, or thinking of his message as theory. Now is real time, the time to speak openly Jesus word of a new message, different form the one people were used to. With this new message is a new way of living. They must stand out in the crowd. But when this is done, persecution will follow, life will not be as easy, as predictable as before. There will be consequences to shouting from the housetops and living out his word. Suffering will be part of life for them. But we know that God is with us because we are very valuable to the Father; we “are worth more than many sparrows.”

Yes, it is a dangerous time to be a Christian in North America. And why is that? It is because as Christians, as Catholics, we rarely stand out in the crowd. Does anyone even notice the presence of a Christian today? It is really a matter of not having to stand up for our beliefs in concrete action. It is a matter of never having to be inconvenienced, having to go out of our way to be a Christian. We really do not know what suffering for our faith in Jesus Christ is. It was also a time when we were noticed for loving one another and being open to accept others no matter what their social or economic standing was. We stood out in a crowd. 

Even Peter was tempted when persecution broke out while he was in Rome. Leading Roman Christians there urged him to escape from Rome. “Shall we be put to flight, brother?” Peter asked sternly. Was he to play the coward? “No,” they insisted, “but that you maybe able still to serve the Lord.” Peter thought awhile and saw their point, But he would not allow them to accompany him. “Let no one of you depart with me, but I will go out alone, for I have changed my purpose.”

However, Peter had not got far outside Rome’s Appian gate when he suddenly saw Jesus walking the Appian Way towards Rome. “Lord,” cried Peter, “Where are you going?” (“Domine, quo vadis”?) Jesus answered, “I am going to Rome to be crucified.” “But, Lord,” Peter replied, “Were you not crucified once?” The Master replied, “I saw that you were fleeing from death, and I am willing to be crucified in your stead.” Peter got the point. “Lord, I will go. I will do your bidding.” “Fear not,” Jesus reassured him, “for I am with you.” Then He vanished. Peter returned to Rome, no longer confused or fearful, but joyful. He knew that the time had come for Christ’s prophecy about him to be fulfilled. So, it was the cross for Peter. He who had fled from Christ’s Calvary found his own Calvary on Vatican Hill. Fear and doubt had gone and witness to Christ was renewed.

Where do we find ourselves in the United States today. We are called more than ever by the Lord to stand out in the crowd. We cannot be governed. Where would we be if Jeremiah, Peter, or Archbishop Romero had been. We would be poorer, and maybe paralyzed by fear. By their example, we have received a call to cast aside fear and proclaim what Jesus Christ’s life means.

What do I do as I go through each day that allows me to express my Christian discipleship. Do I stop from gossiping about someone, or reach out to someone who is considered a minority. Do I not spend a little money on a small luxury in order to support those in need. We may see that we are doing this, but do we do it enough to ‘stand out in the crowd.’ What about our parish? Are we seen as showing Christ in concrete ways in a society which is becoming less and less Christian? Do we have an outreach program for the homeless? What can we do to stand out more as if Christ were here present today?

Fr. John Tran