Do not be afraid

Homily for the 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2026 | Society of African Missions

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 20:10-13 • Psalm 69 • Romans 5:12-15 • Matthew 10:26-33

Fear is a powerful force.

It can keep us awake at night. It can make us second-guess ourselves. It can convince us to stay silent when we should speak, or hold back when we are called to move forward.

Perhaps that is why Jesus repeats the same message three times in this Sunday's Gospel:

"Do not be afraid."

Of course, Jesus is not suggesting that fear itself will disappear. Fear is part of being human. Even the prophets knew fear.

Jeremiah, in today's first reading, feels surrounded by opposition. He hears whispers behind his back. People are waiting for him to fail. He feels isolated and vulnerable. Yet in the midst of his struggle, he makes a remarkable confession of faith: "The Lord is with me."

What strikes me about Jeremiah is his honesty. He doesn't pretend that everything is fine. He doesn't put on a brave face. Instead, he brings his fears before God and discovers that God's presence is greater than his anxiety.

Many of us know what that feels like.

There are seasons in life when we feel misunderstood. We may feel alone in our convictions or uncertain about the future. We may wonder whether our efforts matter or whether anyone notices what we are carrying.

The psalmist knows those feelings as well. Yet throughout the Psalm runs a thread of trust: God hears the cry of those who suffer.

That truth remains important today.

In a world that often rewards success, visibility, and influence, Scripture reminds us that God pays attention to the overlooked and forgotten. God hears the prayers spoken in hospital rooms, in lonely apartments, during sleepless nights, and during long commutes to work. No prayer is too small. No burden is too insignificant.

Jesus takes this even further in the Gospel.

He points to the sparrows—small, ordinary birds that most people barely notice—and says that not one of them falls to the ground apart from the Father's care.

Then he adds, "You are worth more than many sparrows."

Those words are simple, but they carry profound comfort.

The God who created the universe knows each of us personally. God knows our hopes and disappointments, our strengths and weaknesses, our questions and our fears.

We are not anonymous in God's eyes.

That doesn't mean life will be easy. Jeremiah still faced opposition. The disciples would still face hardship. The early Christians would still encounter suffering.

But they did not face those challenges alone.

Neither do we.

Paul reminds us in Romans that while sin and brokenness are real, God's grace is greater. The story of faith is not ultimately about human failure. It is about God's persistent love. Grace has the final word.

Perhaps that is the invitation of this Sunday's readings.

Not to pretend we have no fears, but to place those fears within the larger reality of God's love.

When fear tells us we are alone, God reminds us that we are known.

When fear tells us we are forgotten, God reminds us that we are seen.

When fear tells us that failure is the end of the story, God reminds us that grace is always greater.

The words of Jesus remain as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago:

"Do not be afraid."

Not because life is easy, but because we belong to a God who knows us, loves us, and walks beside us every step of the journey.

What fear do you need to place in God's hands today?

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