Be Not Afraid!

Jesus's mantra for the disciples today is, "Be not afraid." What do we fear and why? Specifically, Jesus today is telling us not to fear those who would persecute us for our faith. This persecution can be strong and dramatic, even to the point of martyrdom. Or it can be quite subtle, and we notice it when we feel like we can't be our authentic, faith-filled selves when we are around certain people. We feel like we can't talk about God or practice our faith openly. Jesus never told his disciples that they wouldn't have to suffer for their faith but he did say that they didn't have to fear such sufferings. The Father sees every sparrow, Jesus says, and you are worth more than the sparrows.