Fearless discipleship
Matthew 10:24-33 | 12 July - Saturday of week 14 in Ordinary Time - Year C (I)
From the Gospel according to Matthew
At that time: Jesus instructed his Apostles: ‘A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
‘So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father knowing. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
This passage occurs within Jesus' missionary discourse (Matthew 10), where He prepares His twelve apostles for their first evangelistic mission. Jesus anticipates the hostility they will face and equips them with courage and perspective.
"Beelzebul" - Jesus references how His enemies accused Him of being possessed by the prince of demons, preparing disciples for similar slander
"Fear not" (repeated three times) - The central command, distinguishing between proper reverence for God and improper fear of human persecution
"Sparrows" and "numbered hairs" - Intimate imagery of God's providential care for the smallest details of creation and our lives
"Acknowledge/deny before men" - Public witness as the crucial test of authentic discipleship
Jesus calls us to fearless discipleship, rooted not in human courage but in divine assurance. While we cannot escape criticism or persecution for following Christ, we can trust that God's intimate knowledge and care for us far exceeds any earthly threat. Our public witness to Christ becomes both a privilege and responsibility, knowing that eternal recognition depends on our willingness to stand with Him when it costs us something.
Many believers faced moments where acknowledging their faith felt risky—perhaps in a workplace conversation, academic setting, or social gathering where Christian values weren't welcome. The fear of being misunderstood, mocked, or marginalised can be paralysing. Yet this passage reminds me that such opposition isn't unexpected; it's part of the disciple's journey.
I remember a particular experience where remaining silent about my beliefs seemed easier than speaking truth in love. Later, I realised that my silence denied not only Christ but also the person who might have needed to hear His message. Jesus' words about God numbering our hairs convicted me—if He cares about such minute details, surely He cares about our courage to represent Him faithfully.
Act: Each morning, pray specifically for one person in your life who needs to hear about Christ, asking God for courage and wisdom to be His witness when opportunities arise.
Reflect: Where do I struggle most with fear in my Christian walk? What's one relationship where I've been hesitant to share Christ?
Let us pray: Lord, grant me fearless faith in Your perfect love.
From the sayings of Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia:
From the altar, Jesus says to Mary, "Behold your son," and to us, "Behold your mother.”