Matthew 10:26-31
“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
If this passage were a poem, the form would be A-B-A. Or, in this case, Promise-Warning-Promise.
First comes the promise: do not fear. This is one of the signature formulations of the Gospel throughout the Scriptures, as anytime an angel or prophet or messenger begins with these words, we know that what is to come is sheer good news. Do not fear those who will oppose you, Jesus says, in time the truth will out. In the meantime, we are commissioned to tell what we have seen and heard and experienced with confidence and joy.
Then warning: Even the most powerful worldly authorities cannot touch your soul or affect your eternal destiny. God alone can do that. And so all fear – more in the sense of holy awe than terror, mind you – should be directed to God, not to worldly powers.
And then promise: Because this is true – God is the one who has power over both our immediate and eternal lives – we should know that God values and loves us above all things. God, in fact, loves the whole creation and reserves particular attention and affection for those created in God’s own likeness.
Promise, warning, promise. Good words for disciples about to go out on a mission, today just as much as then.
Prayer: Dear God, remind us of your great love for all people and your whole creation, and send us to bear witness to this love with joy, confidence, and courage. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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