Contents: Volume 2

12th Sunday

"Ordinary Time"

6/21/2026

1. -- Lanie LeBlanc OP - <lanie@leblanc.one>
2. -- Fr. Jude Siciliano OP - <FrJude@JudeOP.org>

3. -- Elaine H. Ireland <ehireland@gmail.com>

4. -- Carmen Mele OP <cmeleop@yahoo.com>
5. --(Your reflection can be here!)

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Blessings,

Dr. Lanie LeBlanc OP

Southern Dominican Laity

lanie@leblanc.one

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Fr. Jude Siciliano OP - <FrJude@JudeOP.org>

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12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 21, 2026
(Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33)

Once again, today’s Gospel imparts a fundamental lesson for growth in the spiritual life. The passage is drawn from Jesus’ “Apostolic Discourse”—one of the five teachings that, together with their accompanying narratives, form the body of the Gospel of Matthew. It can be viewed as a set of preliminary instructions leading up to the great sending forth of the apostles at the end of the work.

Echoing the words Pope Saint John Paul II often addressed to all Catholics, Jesus tells his apostles: “Do not be afraid.” Afraid of what? In the Church’s first three centuries, the lives of Christians were in danger because of their beliefs and practices. This type of persecution still exists in China, various Muslim countries, and parts of Africa, though it is rare in Western nations.

However, another kind of fear exists among us. Many fear being looked down upon or considered odd—or simply not “cool”—if they live out the faith as the Catechism teaches: for instance, by insisting on attending Sunday Mass even if it means driving twenty miles, or by walking out of a movie that features nudity. Some may mock us now, but it should not surprise us if, twenty years from now, we are remembered for having devoted ourselves to a cause as noble as the “conspiracy of charity” that is the Catholic Church.

Jesus does not say that all fear is unnecessary. In fact, he advises us to fear the One who “can cast both soul and body into the place of punishment.” Unfortunately, he does not explicitly state to whom he is referring. Who can cast us into hell? Some biblical commentators have suggested that Jesus has God, his Father, in mind. Others believe it refers to the devil. But isn't it true that both—God and the devil—are formidable and worthy of fear?

We tend to think of the devil more as a figure who might seduce us into perdition than as one who might cast us there. Yet, the result would be the same: the eternal loss of happiness. Incidentally, if we do not accept terms like "devil" and "Satan," we can substitute them with "evil" or "the web of evil." What we mean is that our natural inclinations toward goods such as pleasure, power, and prestige can become disordered to the point of stifling us. That is, they can extinguish our desire for right relationships with God and our neighbor.

God could certainly cast us into hell, but would He? Perhaps not in the sense of forcibly casting us out of His care. However, He created us with free will so that we might be responsible men and women. Moreover, He sent His own Son to break the bonds of sin and illuminate the paths to righteousness. If we choose to reject all these advantages, God will not prevent us from separating ourselves from Him.

We ought indeed to fear God, particularly when we lack maturity. But once we grow in wisdom, that fear transforms into love, much like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. We come to realize that our happiness lies with Him, not in the praise of drinking companions. For this reason, the Word of God declares that the fear of God is merely "the beginning of wisdom." We are truly wise when we cling to God just as a child clings to his father amidst a crowd at a soccer match.

Since we have mentioned soccer, we might conclude with a comment on the World Cup. In previous years, the competition was associated with a great deal of illicit pleasure. Clearly, those who engaged in such disordered activities were immature individuals, despite being millionaires. They needed the fear of God to set them on the right path. Yet, devout fans who are also friends of God always thank Him for creating athletes with the extraordinary skill of a Lionel Messi or a Kylian Mbappé. For them, soccer is an exciting pastime, but not as important as Sunday Mass. It gives them even more reason to glorify God for all He has done.

Carmen Mele OP <cmeleop@yahoo.com>

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Volume 2 is for you. These reflections follow the Liturgical Calendar and appear here about mid week each week.  They are written by various guest authors.  If you would like to submit a reflection of your own, then click here to send an email request to post to the Webmaster.  Deadline is Monday morning of each week for the upcoming Sunday.

VOLUME II ARCHIVE

• 12th Sunday •
• 11th Sunday OT •
• Corpus Christi •
• Trinity Sunday •
• Pentecost •
• Ascension •

A service of The Order of Preachers, The Dominicans.
Province of St. Martin De Porres
(Southern Dominican Province USA)
P.O. Box 8129, New Orleans, LA 70182
(504) 837-2129; Fax (504) 837-6604
http://www.opsouth.org
(form revised 10/13/2025)