This coming weekend is the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our gospel reading opens with the ominous, “Therefore do not be afraid of them.” Of course that just raises the question about the identity of “them.” There are verses that are not included in the Sunday gospels, notably Matthew 10:9-25, in which the actions of “them” are described. A summary might include:

• those who do not receive the Twelve and their message of redemption (v.14)
• the ones who “hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues” (v.17)
• governors and kinds (v.18)
• family members who turn against you (v.21)

“Don’t be afraid” prepares for the sayings about whom the disciples should fear in vv. 28 and 31, a part of our Sunday gospel in which the admonition to not be afraid is repeated.

The readings from the 11th Sunday made clear that they have been prepared to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and to announce repentance with the same urgency as Jesus (Mt 4) and John the Baptist (Mt 3). The basic theme is stated in 10:24–25: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master.” Just as the disciples share in Jesus’ power, so they must share his life, mission, and his sufferings. As Matthew describes in v.19, the disciples will be “handed over” (paradidomi), the same word Jesus uses in the description of his own passion (17:22; 20:18–19; 26:2). Like Jesus, they will suffer for the sake of the divine mission in the world.

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

These verses have their parallel in Luke 12:2 and, some would say, in Mark 4:22. I would disagree with the Markan parallel. While the words are similar, the topic in Mark is not missionary endeavors, but rather why Jesus teaches in parables and leaves some listeners “in the dark,” so to speak. Perhaps one might offer that the Markan context is that what must remain secret for a time will ultimately be revealed. But in Matthew’s use (and Luke’s) there is no nuance. The disciples are to proclaim the good news so that all can hear. That being said, there is a bit of muting about the proclamation if one considers Jesus’ own method of teaching by parables (Mt 13:10-17) which has the effect of being somewhat secret if not simply privileged.

The disciples have the duty to proclaim the message and not to let that public proclamation be the first casualty of fear. “Good news is not meant to be kept under wraps, however little some people may wish to hear it. Even though for the time being Jesus’ teaching to his disciples has to be “in darkness”…in the coming time of witness before governors and kings (vv. 17–18) and of world-wide proclamation of the euangelion (24:14) it must no longer be hidden.” (France, 402)

Image credit: Image credit: The Sacrament of Ordination (Christ Presenting the Keys to Saint Peter), c. 1636-40, by Nicholas Poussin, Public Domain