12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – June
21, 2026
Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33
Theme: “Do not be Afraid of Those Who Kill the Body but Cannot Kill the Soul”
A.
- Historical
and Literary Contexts
Our
Gospel passage is taken from chapter 10 of Matthew’s Gospel. This chapter,
divided into four parts, discusses Jesus' mission sermon to his disciples.
After sending them out on a mission with instructions (first part: vv. 1-15)
and warning them about the coming persecutions (second part: vv. 16-25), Jesus,
in our text, encourages his disciples, reassures them of God’s protection, and
promises to acknowledge them before God if they acknowledge him before people
(third part: vv. 26-33). Immediately after our Gospel story, Jesus will prepare
them for the repercussions and explain the conditions and rewards of
discipleship (fourth part: vv. 34-42).
- Form,
Structure, and Movement
Our
Gospel passage is a narrative story structured into three movements. First,
Jesus encourages his disciples not to fear their persecutors but to respect God
(vv. 26-28). Second, he uses two short parables to reassure them of God’s
protection (vv. 29-31). Third, he concludes with a warning promise that before
God, he will acknowledge or deny those disciples who do the same to him before
people (vv. 32-33).
- Detailed
Analysis
Vv.
26-28. Jesus had already warned his Twelve about the possible persecutions they
might encounter in their mission (see 10:16-25). In vv. 26-28, he encourages
them not to be afraid of their persecutors. Jesus’ statement in v. 26b,
“Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be
known,” means that in their mission, the disciples must proclaim and reveal the
concealed and secret coming kingdom to the people without fear. “What I say to
you in the darkness … what you hear whispered …” (v. 27) alludes to what Jesus
taught his disciples in private that they should now proclaim in the “light”
and on the “housetops,” meaning publicly and openly. The potential persecutors
of the disciples can kill the body only, not the soul. God is the only one who
can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna, the eternal condemnation. Therefore,
the disciples should not be afraid of them but of God (v. 28).
Vv.
29-31. After encouraging his disciples not to fear their persecutors, Jesus now
employs two short parables to reassure them of God's protection. The first
parable is about two sparrows sold for a small coin; yet, God always knows when
each sparrow falls to the ground. The second parable illustrates that God knows
the exact number of hairs on the disciples’ heads. These two parables signify
that God is in complete control of every persecution the disciples may face. If
God saves the sparrows, he will also protect them because they are worth more
than many sparrows. Therefore, they should not be afraid.
Vv.
32-33. Jesus makes a warning promise here, which appears to refer to the end of
time at the last judgment. “To acknowledge Jesus before others” means not to be
afraid and not to give up Jesus’ mission amid persecution. “To deny Jesus
before others” is to abandon Jesus’ mission because of fear of persecution. In
the last judgment before God at the end of time, Jesus, as an advocate, will
acknowledge those who remain faithful to him and his mission and deny those who
abandon him and his mission.
- Synthesis
In
their mission to reveal the “concealed” and “secret” coming kingdom and
proclaim it openly and publicly, Jesus first encourages his disciples not to
fear their eventual persecutors, who can kill the body only. Instead, they
should fear God, who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna. Then, using two
short parables, he reassures them of God’s protection. Finally, he gives them a
warning promise that before God in the last judgment at the end of time, he
will acknowledge those who remain faithful to him and his mission and deny
those who abandon him and his mission.
B.
Pastoral Implications
- Liturgical
Context
The
Gospel reminds us of our baptismal mission and encourages us not to fear when
we face challenges. The first reading presents Jeremiah as a model to imitate
during our mission in times of persecution. What should we do when it happens
that we abandon our mission through sin? The second reading teaches us not to
blame our first ancestor, Adam, but instead to acknowledge our sins and confess
them.
- What
the Church Teaches Us Today
We
accepted the invitation to become Jesus’ disciples at our baptism and were
“sent out” to continue his mission. In the Gospel passage (Mt 10:16-25) that
immediately precedes ours, Jesus warned his disciples and us of the eventual
persecutions we may encounter in our mission. Indeed, sometimes people
discourage, criticize, reject, and persecute us because of our Christian faith
and the ministries we render to the Church, our families, and society. What
should we do amid this painful experience? The Church wants us to know three
things through today's scripture readings.
(1)
Jesus encourages us to continue revealing the “concealed” and “secret” coming
kingdom to our brothers and sisters and to proclaim it without fear of those
who persecute us (v. 26). Given the violence, injustice, and various forms of
evil present in our neighborhoods, cities, countries, and the world, it is
clear that the coming kingdom of heaven is still not well known or revealed to
many people. Our Christian mission is to make it known and revealed wherever we
live, regardless of the discouragement, rejection, criticism, and persecution
we face. What Jesus teaches us privately at each Mass we attend and from the
Word of God we read, listen to, and study should be proclaimed “in the light”
and on the “housetops,” which means publicly and openly (v. 27). Reminding us
that persecutors can kill the body only, but God can destroy both body and soul
in Gehenna, Jesus calls us not to fear persecutors, but to fear God (v. 28).
(2)
After encouraging us, Jesus now reassures us of God’s protection. Through the
two short parables about the sparrows and the hairs on our heads, Jesus wants
us to know that God is in complete control of everything that happens to us.
God will protect us because we are worth more than many sparrows (vv. 29-31).
In our first reading, the prophet Jeremiah shared his experience when he was
persecuted. Amid his suffering, he believed that the Lord was with him like a
mighty champion; his persecutors would not prevail but would stumble and be put
to utter shame, to lasting unforgettable confusion (Jr 20:11). Let us imitate
Jeremiah and keep our faith in God.
(3)
After encouraging and reassuring us of God’s protection, Jesus now makes a
warning promise that alludes to the last judgment at the end of time. He
promises to acknowledge us before God if we do not abandon him and his mission
amid today's persecutions. However, if we abandon him and his mission, he will
not acknowledge us before God. You and I have failed many times to remain
faithful to our Christian faith and mission. In our second reading, Saint Paul
teaches us that we should not blame Adam for our sinfulness. We are all
culpable for our daily sins (Rom 5:12). This means there is no justification
for abandoning our Christian faith and mission. To avoid being denied by Jesus,
we must sincerely regret our sins every time we fail in our mission and confess
them through the wonderful sacrament of penance. Once our relationship with God
is restored, we should continue to live out our Christian faith and carry out
Jesus’ mission.
Amid
all the persecution we endure, we should not give up our Christian faith and
mission. In our first reading, Jeremiah inspires us to sing and praise the Lord
instead (Jr 20:13). So, let us join today’s Psalmist and sing with faith:
“Lord, in your great love, answer me.” Amen.
Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD
Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Jackson, MS
&
SVD USS Biblical Apostolate Coordinator
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