Reflection on the Readings

This weekend, the Word of God speaks to us about something every one of us knows well: FEAR.

In the Gospel, Jesus says very plainly: “Do not be afraid.” That sounds comforting, but it can also sound unrealistic. After all, fear is part of life. We worry about our families, our health, our future, our finances, and the many uncertainties that seem to press in on us from all sides. Even great figures of faith, like the prophet Jeremiah, knew fear, discouragement, and anxiety.

The message of the Gospel is not that faith removes all our struggles. It is not that believers are somehow spared hardship, disappointment, or loss. Rather, the message is this: in the midst of our fears, God is with us. Faith does not eliminate the storm, but it anchors us in the middle of it.

That is an important reminder for all of us, but especially on Father’s Day weekend. A good father knows something about carrying burdens quietly. Fathers often worry deeply, even when they do not always speak about it. They want to protect, provide, guide, and encourage. They know the weight of responsibility. And yet, at their best, fathers teach something powerful not only by what they say, but by how they live: perseverance, steadiness, sacrifice, and courage.

This weekend we give thanks for all fathers—living and deceased, biological fathers, adoptive fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, godfathers, priests, mentors, and all those men who have exercised a fatherly role in our lives. Their witness reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the willingness to keep loving, keep serving, and keep trusting even when life is difficult.

That is very much at the heart of this Sunday’s Gospel. Jesus tells us not to let fear rule our lives. If we are not grounded in Him, fear can easily take over—fear of failure, fear of what others think, fear of loss, fear of the unknown. But when we are rooted in Christ, we begin to discover an inner stability, a deeper strength, and a peace the world cannot give.

So perhaps this week we might ask ourselves a few simple but important questions: What am I afraid of? Why? And who do I trust most in the midst of it? These are not easy questions, but they are holy ones. They help us see where we need to let God work more deeply in our hearts.

Fr. David C. Santos, Pastor