Newsletter June 21st 2026 / 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Day for life 2026 / Father’s Day

Finding Courage in the Storm: A Reflection for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus gives his disciples a command that is as challenging today as it was two thousand years ago: “Do not be afraid.”

· It is a simple directive, but one that often feels impossible in the face of our daily lives. We live in a world that thrives on anxiety—fear of what others think, fear of the future, and fear of standing up for what is true.

· In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah gives us a raw, honest look at the cost of discipleship. He feels the “whispering” and “denunciations” of those around him. He is mocked and isolated because he dared to speak the truth of God. Yet, in the midst of his distress, he finds his footing: “But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion.”

Jeremiah reminds us that being a person of faith does not grant us immunity from life’s storms. Rather, it grants us a Presence that is stronger than any storm.

· St. Paul, writing to the Romans, deepens this perspective. He reminds us that while sin and death entered the world through one man, the grace of God and the gift of Jesus Christ have overflowed for the many. Our faith is not built on our own ability to be brave; it is built on the reality that Christ has already won the victory.

· When Jesus tells us not to be afraid of those who can harm the body but not the soul, He is inviting us to a radical  reordering of our priorities. He is calling us to fear nothing but the loss of our intimacy with God.

This week, as we go about our work, our school, and our family duties, let us cultivate this “holy courage.” When you feel the pressure to conform, to remain silent when you should speak, or to worry about the opinions of others, remember the words of our Lord: “You are worth more than many sparrows.”

You are known, you are loved, and you are held by the “mighty champion” who walked the path of the Cross before you.

May you feel the peace of Christ in your hearts this week, and may that peace give you the courage to live as a light in the world.

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