DO NOT BE AFRAID

 

25 June 2017 Sun

Sharing my notes taken @ the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Singapore

- Homily by Rev Fr Bobby from Potta (India)

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Fr Bobby from Potta (India) celebrated mass today at OLPS.  He spoke about fear, joy and sin...

Fear is a negation of our faith

He pointed out that there are 366 instances in the Bible reminding us “Do not be afraid” - almost one reminder for every day of the year.   Fear is a negation of our faith.  When we fear, we are telling the world that our problem is greater than our God.  

Joy is our strength

“The joy of the Lord is our strength” Nehemiah 8:10  And because God is with us, there is no need to fear, be anxious nor worry.  By not fearing, we are declaring and honouring that the Lord is sufficient for us. "Anyone who honours me, so will my Father honour him.” John 12:26  Fr spoke about the multitude of problems & persecution facing the world today but nothing should take away the joy and peace we have in the Lord.  “Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians16-18.

 

 

Fear what kills the soul

Fr added that there is one thing we must fear, and that is sin.  Adversities, terrorism, poverty…these can kill the body, but not the soul   “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell”  Mat 10:28    Sin destroys the soul, sin brings disaster.  “The wages of sin is death” Rom 6:23.    

Sin eats us, like what a lion does to its prey

Sin is "like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.” Psalm 10:9  The relationship between sin and the sinner is like the relationship between the lion and its prey.  Our sin will eat us …and we may not be aware, it eats us slowly. The reality of sin is that it is a destroyer, it comes to steal and to destroy.  "Avoid sin as if it were a snake. If you get too near, it will sink its teeth into your soul like a lion, and destroy you.” Sirach 21:2

The tragedy of today

Today so many things make us fearful except sin!  The tragedy today is not terrorism, poverty, financial crisis, persecution or failures at school or at work….the tragedy today is the ignorance of sin.  The world is not only growing in sin, but proclaiming that sinful ways are the norm of the day.  

Have courage to be different

Fr urges us to have the courage to be unique and different, even if it is to the scoff of the world, "so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.” Phil 2:15.  May we cling on to the grace of God, and with the joy of our Lord as our strength, work hard towards being holy and blameless despite the circumstances  …."So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” Phil 2:12

The sorrow of our Mother

Fr reminded us to seek too our blessed Mother, who weeps for us.  Wherever she appears, she is filled with tears, she says with a mother’s heart, “how long will you enjoy sin, come back to my Son…”  She is near, she is with us on our journey against sinfulness and towards holiness - she helps us strengthen our faith and keeps us close to her Son.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell”  Mat 10:28