On the periphery Jer 20:10-13; Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35; Rom 5:12-15; Mt 10:26-33 Like all of our emotions, fear can help us make our way through the world or it can be an obstacle, and a formidable one at that. Our fear of injury and death keeps us from dangerous behaviors, or at least it should. Fear of street crime leads us to take precautions, especially at night. The approach of severe weather leads us to find shelter. Some people experience such a high level of anxiety because of phobias like the fear of heights, fear of social interaction or fear of flying that daily life becomes a burden. When Jesus tells the Twelve to “fear no one,” he is not speaking about phobias or even healthy fears. Jesus is speaking about a specific fear — the kind of fear that could prevent the apostles from taking up their mission to proclaim the Good News. The disciples were anxious about the opposition that they suspected they would encounter — opposition that would likely be intense. The religious and political atmosphere of their time was not ready for the message that they were to proclaim. Jesus assures the Twelve that they will be under God’s protective care. Their first concern should be to become effective witnesses to the Good News. Witness, however, has often involved suffering. The apostles experienced that in their lives. They saw what happened to Jesus. In the days following his death, the apostles cowered in fear behind closed doors, believing that their association with Jesus marked them for a fate like his. It was the power of the Spirit that transformed them into fearless missionaries who took the Good News of Jesus to the ends of the earth. James, the brother of John, was the first of the Twelve to suffer martyrdom because of witnessing to the Gospel (Acts 12:2). The other apostles and many early Christians faced a similar fate. They went to their deaths assured by the words of Jesus: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Mt 10:28). Today is still an age of martyrs. Witness still involves suffering. Missionaries whom I have helped prepare for ordained ministry have been killed for standing with the poor people they served. Catholics who are faithful witnesses to the Gospel face persecution and even death in dozens of countries across the globe. Yes, we live in a country that protects people from the type of religious persecution that our sisters and brothers face in other places. Still, to be a Catholic in American society today can mean swimming against the current. Fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ sometimes requires us to be out of step with values many other Americans hold dear. Being committed to Jesus Christ means placing ourselves on the periphery of our society. Fidelity to his prophetic mission placed Jeremiah on the periphery of Judean society. His only goal was to persuade the people of Judah to accept the political and military realities that they helped create by their failure to maintain a just society. For this he was considered a traitor. He was imprisoned and narrowly escaped execution. He became despondent and was ready to give up his prophetic ministry. Somehow, he found the strength to carry on. Within a short time, events in Judah’s life proved that he was right. Recognizing this, some people gathered up the prophet’s words. These words reveal a person who overcame his fears. To be authentic Christians in American society today may mean that we will find ourselves at odds with many other Americans on issues such as capital punishment, immigration, workers’ rights, racial justice, affordable healthcare, the environment. Being committed Catholics who uphold the values of the Gospel requires us to “fear no one.” It is difficult, but it can be done. Jeremiah and the apostles were able to overcome their fears and complete their respective missions. Jesus calls us to witness to the Gospel today. Fidelity to that commission will likely place us on the periphery of American society. Still, there are times when being on the periphery is the right place to be.
About the Author Father Leslie Hoppe, OFM, is professor emeritus of Old Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union, 5416 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago.