12th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A - Fear Less, Trust More & “Abide With Me”

If you could eliminate one thing from your life forever, what would it be? Stress? Worry? Fear?

Most of us spend a great deal of time trying to avoid discomfort, uncertainty, and hardship. Yet the readings for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time remind us of a surprising truth: following Christ does not remove difficulties from our lives. In fact, sometimes He can bring them.

Jesus is remarkably honest with His disciples. He does not promise them an easy road. He warns them that they may face rejection, ridicule, opposition, and even persecution because of their faith. Around the world, many Christians still experience this reality today. Closer to home, believers can encounter criticism, discrimination, misunderstanding, or pressure to keep their faith private.

Faced with such challenges, it is natural to be afraid. We may be tempted to stay silent about our beliefs or avoid standing up for what is right. But in this Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 10:26-33), Jesus offers a powerful reassurance: "Do not be afraid." In fact, He repeats that message several times.

Jesus teaches us that there is something far worse than losing popularity, comfort, or even physical security. The real tragedy is losing sight of God and the eternal life He offers. In other words, Jesus is helping us put our fears in the proper order. Human beings can affect our circumstances, but only God holds our eternal destiny in His hands.

The prophet Jeremiah understood this lesson well (Jeh. 20:10-13). His life was anything but comfortable. He was mocked, abandoned by friends, imprisoned, and threatened because he faithfully proclaimed God's message. Yet Jeremiah refused to surrender to what he called "…terror from every side." Why? Because he believed that "…the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero."

Notice something important: Jeremiah was not fearless because life was easy. He was courageous because he knew God was with him.

That same confidence is at the heart of this weekend’s readings. They remind us of two great truths every disciple must remember.

First, we are deeply loved by God. Jesus says that even the hairs on our heads are counted. God's knowledge of us is intimate and personal. We are not anonymous faces in a crowd. We matter to Him. The Psalm (Ps. 68) echoes this beautiful reality: the Lord hears the cry of the poor and never abandons those who call upon Him.

Second, discipleship will sometimes involve hardship. The Christian life is not a guarantee of comfort, wealth, or a trouble-free existence. Jesus told His apostles plainly that they would encounter opposition because of His name. The same remains true today. Faithfulness to Christ may require sacrifice, courage, and perseverance.

This tension between being loved by God and still experiencing suffering can be difficult to understand. The late spiritual writer Henri Nouwen captured it beautifully when he observed that even our happiest moments carry a hint of sadness. Every success has its limitations, every friendship has its imperfections, and every joy in this world remains incomplete. Why? Because our hearts were made for something greater. No earthly achievement, relationship, or possession can completely remove our deepest fears or satisfy our deepest longings. Only God can do that.

As we continue our journey through Ordinary Time, this weekend’s readings invite us to anchor ourselves in these two essential truths: life as a disciple will sometimes be challenging, but we are never alone. We are deeply loved by God, cared for by Him, and held securely in His hands.

When fear comes, and it will, remember the words of Jesus: Fear less. Trust more. God has not forgotten you.

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In honor of the Gospel, we would like share our latest video, “Abide With Me”, one of the most beloved hymns in the entire Christian tradition. This hymn is a deeply personal prayer written by Henry Francis Lyte (1793–1847) as he preached his final farewell sermon, dying of tuberculosis, set to the immortal EVENTIDE tune composed by William Henry Monk in 1861. This new Sunday 7pm Choir recording offers a fresh choral arrangement by Jason D. Locke.

On this Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time, as Jesus commands His disciples in Matthew 10:26–33 to "Fear no one", this hymn becomes the musical answer to that Gospel promise: because the Lord abides with us, we need not fear.

Video can be watched by clicking here or by clicking on the thumbnail below.