KNOW WHAT TO FEAR AND WHEN TO BE AFRAID

By Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin


 WORKOUT WEDNESDAY

A Midweek Spiritual Workout with
Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin

KNOW WHAT TO FEAR AND 
WHEN TO BE AFRAID

Ordinary Time can sometimes lead us to the extraordinary! This week’s readings invite our response to a special call, “the call to courageous confession.” That is an extraordinary challenge!  Jesus says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy soul and body in Gehenna.”  Jesus said this because he knew that persecution would befall the Church.

Persecution takes on a variety of forms for today’s Christians. Although current types of persecution may not harm us bodily, they can destroy our souls. Of this, we must undoubtedly be afraid! We are wise to fear those who can destroy fidelity in marriage, faith in our God, and the life of our souls; who can destroy our commitment to truth and honesty; who can destroy our sense of generosity and responsibility for others; who can destroy respect for the dignity of sexuality and for human life; who can destroy our values, our hopes, our following of Christ. Courage is fear that has said its prayers. We must pray unceasingly to confess our beliefs with courage and conviction in words and action.

These modern-day attacks may not bruise the body. They are not instruments of physical torture. But they are instruments common to us. They are movies, sarcasm, humor, music, television sitcoms, accepted wrongdoing, materialistic cultural heroes exhibiting amoral behavior, advertising jingles, soap operas, jokes, fashions, and novels. These all gradually erode Christian ideals that are holy and sacred. We should fear these modern-day persecutors not because they harm our bodies but because they damage our souls.  Jesus tells us, do not be afraid because God is our shield. He created us in His image and likeness to love, not to hate. He brought us into a relationship with Him through prayer and the sacraments.

In this Midweek Spiritual Workout, let us intentionally focus on God’s love for us and nurture an intimate relationship with Him through prayer and the sacraments. With the Psalmist, let us pray, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff shall comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin was born in Kibakwe, Mpwapwa, Dodama Tanzania, Africa, on January 23, 1978. He was ordained to the Ministerial Priesthood on July 12, 2012, by Archbishop Gervas John M. Nyaisonga. Following his service as Pastor in his home country of Tanzania, Father was commissioned to the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Augustine in Pittsburgh, PA, where he was assigned to Immaculate Conception Church in Dudley, PA. Father currently serves as chaplain and pastoral care at West Penn Hospital in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh PA. He completed his ministry there and returned to Tanzania on May 7, 2024.

Comments

  1. Paula CalabreseJune 21, 2023 at 11:22 PM

    "The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident." -- Max Lucado

    ReplyDelete

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