Jesus’ Advice

June 25, 2023 – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062523.cfm)

“Life is difficult”. In one of the best-selling books of our times on self-help and psycho-spirituality “The Road Less Travelled”, Dr. M. Scott Peck has devoted the whole first chapter on the reality of life-difficulties. Surely, we don’t need to read his book just for us to realize that life is difficult. Regardless of race, culture, beliefs, and status in life, we do know and learn from experience that life indeed is and can be difficult. Perhaps even most of our life are spent about coping and dealing with our unavoidable experiences of difficulties in life. While amid our struggle with life-difficulties, many times we, as Christians, followers of Jesus, cannot help but wonder about what would Jesus say and do about the reality of our life’s difficulties.

This is the very spirit of our liturgical season these coming Sundays of our Christian lives now. After celebrating Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter seasons, we are now coming into and going through the Ordinary Time of our liturgical life. And at the very heart of this liturgical period is our Christian Moral life that centers on how we can live out and practice our Christian faith and life while we struggle with the reality of life’s difficulties. In other words, yes, life in general is and can be difficult, but even much so being Christian (Christian life) also is and can be very difficult.

Perhaps the best way to make the best of our coming Sunday celebrations is to continually ask and ponder the questions: As we live life in faith through life’s difficulties, WWJS (What Would Jesus Say) and WWJD (What Would Jesus Do)? This would mean that as we struggle even in faith with how difficult our life is and can be, by asking these questions WWJS/WWJD, we allow our Lord to coach us in life and give us some tips or guides on how to cope and deal with life’s harsh reality. 

Jesus in our Gospel today has something clear to say and teach us about difficulties of life in faith. His obvious message to us is “Do Not Be Afraid”. Three times He said this in our gospel today, and we also know that “Fear not, Do not be Afraid” has been one of his recurring message to us all throughout the Gospels and Scriptures. This simply means that Jesus always directs and wants us “Not to be Afraid” as we struggle with, in and through the difficulties of our lives.

And particularly here in our gospel today, Jesus teaches us three tips on how He (and we could) cope and deal with life-difficulties. First, “not being afraid” would mean being True to ourselves. Here Jesus is telling us: No more secrets, lies, pretenses, by-standing and hiding. Be a person of integrity and fidelity to your tasks, mission, and vocation in this life.  Proclaim your Being and be a witness to others. Magpakatoo ka.

“Not being Afraid” would mean also Being Strong. Jesus teaches us that Courage is more than just moving on, moving forward, fighting back (still being afraid of others) but more so on holding our ground, facing the odds, standing still, and asking for help. Strength then in the midst of life-difficulties would mean not only “no retreat, no surrender”, but also “don’t fight nor flee but face it and ask for help”. Thus, the struggle is all about Getting Thru and not Getting Rid of life-difficulties. Hindi ang Mawalay kundi Malampasan ang kahirapan, kaya Magpakatatag.

And lastly, “Not being afraid” would mean to Be Faithful. Jesus reminds us that in life-difficulties, we do have God as our Help to protect and take care of us well. All we have to do is to Have faith and hope in God, that is to allow God to be part of our struggles (God to be with us). Manalig sa Dios.

Simply put, Jesus is guiding us “Not to be Afraid” in life-difficulties by being true, strong and faithful in life (Huwag tayong matakot, kondi magpakatotoo, magpakatatag at manalig sa Dios. Take this advice, guide, and tips from the words and life of Jesus himself who went through and knew more about how difficult life and Christian life is and can be. Let us allow Him to be our life coach now by considering WWJS and WWJD about how “life is difficult”.

Consider also that Jesus gives us this advice because He knows we have our tendency to Fear new realities. Whenever Good News (good & new things) are happening to us, Normal for us, indeed to be sorry for our past mistakes, to be afraid of what is in front of us, & to be worried of yet to come. Actually, the opposite of Faith is not doubt but moreso, Fear. By instinct we are afraid, fear is instinctual. By choice we believe; faith is voluntary. Behind the advice of “Fear not” is the challenge of Jesus: “Have Faith in me, instead.”

We continue to pray and ask, then for His guidance for us not to be afraid of life-difficulties, but to be His true, strong and faithful followers. Amen.