Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time BVM

Title

Two Types of Fear

Outline

Many of us struggle with fear

It may be irrational or it may be reality-based

It may need treatment or it may be walked through

Fear is physiologically based and adaptive if functioning well, but it is maladaptive if we are constantly fearful

Our texts give us two types of fear, one to embrace and one to identify with Jesus

Isaiah has an appropriate fear

He is at the beginning of his career and the first three kings are definitely a spiritual decline

He is a priest and his call vision is in the Temple, an awesome vision of God

When he experiences God as God is, he realizes his own sinfulness individually and as part of the people

It is only then that he experiences his sins cleansed, hears the voice of God asking who is available to send, realizes that the question is directed to him, and volunteers: “Here I am,” I said; “send me!”

Fear was appropriate, leading to repentance, and the result is cleansing and calling. May this be our experience repeatedly as we go deeper with God.

Jesus speaks of a fear to be walked through via identification with him

A disciple wants to be like his master in every way, but this also means being maligned. This means loss of reputation, rejection, and worse.

But we are not to fear this, for we know Jesus and are becoming like him: the truth will be revealed by God (maybe not in our lifetimes). Our job is to fearlessly proclaim God’s truth (in an appropriate style) whatever “they” threaten. Our job is to fear only God and so walk through the wall of the fear of human beings. Our job is to recognize that our Father loves us - even if “they” are tying us to a stake.

Then Jesus goes on with not fearing even if your family is falling apart due to conflict occasioned by him.

So, Sisters, there we have it

Fear occasioned by recognition of our shortcomings is to be welcomed, the shortcomings confessed, and God’s cleansing received. This should be what happens when we experience God, not “God is my buddy.”

Fear occasioned by our being like Jesus and on his mission is the world trying to control us via fear of death. It is to be walked through, for we both fear and identify with him who is on the other side of death and loves our enemies so much he wants them to have his truth.

Once we get the distinction straight we can face fear appropriately, although that means calling upon God for courage, courage to confess or courage to walk through the wall of fear.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 7-9-2022: Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Isaiah 6:1–8

CHAPTER 6

1 In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. 2 Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they hovered. 3 One cried out to the other:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!

All the earth is filled with his glory!”

4 At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

7 He touched my mouth with it. “See,” he said, “now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.”

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!”

Catholic Daily Readings 7-9-2022: Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 93:1a

1 The LORD is king, robed with majesty;

the LORD is robed, girded with might.

The world will surely stand in place,

never to be moved.

PSALM

Psalm 93:1–2, 5

1 The LORD is king, robed with majesty;

the LORD is robed, girded with might.

The world will surely stand in place,

never to be moved.

2 Your throne stands firm from of old;

you are from everlasting.

5 Your decrees are firmly established;

holiness befits your house, LORD,

for all the length of days.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-9-2022: Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

1 Peter 4:14

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

GOSPEL

Matthew 10:24–33

24 No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!

26 “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. 27 What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. 30 Even all the hairs of your head are counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. 33 But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 7-9-2022: Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest and Martyr, and His Companions, Martyrs

First Reading Isaiah 6:1–8

Response Psalm 93:1a

Psalm Psalm 93:1–2, 5

Gospel Acclamation 1 Peter 4:14

Gospel Matthew 10:24–33

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