Do not be afraid of what others might think

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Today's readings bring us two very different stories. In the gospel from Luke 19:11-28, we hear of a rich man who went on a long trip and left his servants with an amount of money to be used for profit. Some did but one man hid it and made no profit. He did so out of fear. Recently I told an old friend that I had something to say to her. It was good news but her immediate response was, ''What have I done wrong?'' Sometimes we want to be so popular and well thought of that we become defensive and are afraid to act in a way that might cause us to lose the good opinion of others. The long first reading from 2 Maccabees shows us a mother and her seven sons who knew that their true identity came from their union with God, the source of their life, and that obedience to him was the source of true happiness. Six of the sons had died for refusing to eat pork which would have meant renouncing a sign of their faith. Only the youngest one was still alive and the ruler tried to persuade him with promises of riches and a high position. He appealed to the mother to convince her son. But she spoke to him in their own language saying, '' Do not fear this butcher but prove yourself worthy of your brothers. Accept death so that in the day of mercy I may get you back again along with your brothers.'' Thank you, Lord, for the example of that family and strengthen us so that will always choose to remain faithful to you and not deny you through fear of what others may think. ''You are the way, the truth and the life.''

Don Hornsey