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Jesus reminds us to fear no one but God, trust in His love, and boldly share the Gospel with faith, hope, and courage.

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Fear No One: Trusting Christ More Than Our Fears

What does golf have to do with today’s Gospel?

If you play golf, you know that flush shots are few and far between. Every golfer remembers those moments when the ball leaves the clubface perfectly and flies exactly where it was intended to go. Those shots don’t happen often, which is why they stand out.

Believe it or not, that idea connects to today’s Gospel.

In today’s passage, Jesus is preparing His disciples to go out on their own for the very first time. He is sending them ahead of Him to prepare the way, to proclaim the Good News, and to invite others into a relationship with God. Knowing the challenges they will face, Jesus gives them a powerful instruction:

“Fear no one.”

He knows they will encounter opposition. He knows they may be mocked, rejected, persecuted, or even suffer greatly because of their faith. Yet He tells them:

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna.”

Jesus reminds His disciples that God alone is worthy of our reverence and awe. This is what Scripture calls the “fear of the Lord”—not a fear of punishment, but a profound respect, trust, and recognition of God’s power and authority.

And immediately after speaking about this holy fear, Jesus reveals something even greater: God’s immense love.

The God who holds all power also knows every detail about us. He knows us completely and loves each one of us personally. He has the capacity to love every person as if they were the only one.

We know from history that nearly all of the Apostles would eventually die as martyrs. Only our patron, Saint John the Evangelist, would avoid a martyr’s death. Yet their suffering did not stop the spread of Christianity.

As the early Church Father Tertullian famously wrote:

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

The courageous witness of those first Christians became one of the greatest forces for evangelization the world has ever seen. Their faith inspired others to believe. Their sacrifice became a testimony to the truth of the Gospel.

Their martyrdom did not mean that God abandoned them.

In the same way that God the Father did not abandon Jesus in His suffering, He did not abandon the Apostles. Instead, they were invited to walk the same royal road to glory that Christ Himself walked.

God had their backs.

Jesus now asks us to live with that same courage.

He tells us to be like sheep among wolves. He calls us to prepare hearts to receive Him. He invites us to bring His Sacred Heart to a world that desperately needs His love and mercy.

At the same time, Jesus warns us not to allow fear to direct our lives.

Fear no one.

Others may be able to harm the body, but they cannot touch the soul.

Instead of focusing on fear, Jesus asks us to focus on Him.

Focus on the One who is greater than every fear.

Focus on the faith, hope, and love that God desires to bring into the lives of those around you.

Focus on the eternal glory that awaits those who remain faithful.

This kind of boldness is not something we can create on our own.

It comes from an intimate union with Jesus Christ.

We cannot love others with Christ’s compassion unless we are united to Him. We cannot see others through His eyes unless we spend time with Him in prayer, worship, and the sacraments.

But when we draw close to His Sacred Heart, something begins to change. We start seeing others differently. We begin to love with greater patience, mercy, and generosity. We become instruments through which Christ can reach those who are suffering.

Many people are familiar with the phrase:

“Land of the free because of the brave.”

That statement certainly applies to military service members who courageously defend freedom.

But it also applies to faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians are called to overcome fear and boldly share the Gospel. We are called to bring Christ’s liberating message to those who are suffering, discouraged, and enslaved by the powers of this world.

Jesus’ message remains the same today as it was for His first disciples:

Fear no one.

Trust in God’s love.

Remain united to Christ.

And courageously share the Good News with the world.