2026/06/21 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Christa Kingsley, Manager of Social Justice & Outreach
In this week’s readings, we find ourselves deeply connected to earliest believers. Jeremiah stands surrounded by doubt and by people watching for his failure, yet he turns inward—to the steady presence of God—to find reassurance. His witness reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to trust God more than the voices around us.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul expands our understanding of sin, describing it not simply as personal failure but as a condition inherited through Adam. Yet he does not leave us there. Paul proclaims the greater truth: through Christ’s suffering and death, a gift has been given to all. This gift brings healing and an outpouring of grace that is far stronger than sin.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks directly to the anxieties and fears of His disciples—fears I recognize in my own life. While many of the saints faced the risk of persecution, exposure, and even physical harm, my daily experience of fear is more subtle, yet real. I hesitate at times to openly profess my faith, worried that I will be drawn into conversations where I must defend what I believe and not have the right words. My “persecution” may take the form of social exclusion or being misunderstood—perhaps being seen as too serious or not “fun enough.”
Lately, however, I sense that we may be called to be something more. As our Pope continues to challenge us to care for the marginalized—the homeless, immigrants, and all those who are different from us—I believe we will increasingly be asked to step into courageous roles as Catholics in our society. Christ never promised a life free from trials. Instead, He showed us how to stand for truth and justice, even in the face of hardship.
At the same time, Christ assures us that we are never forgotten. Each of us is created in the image and likeness of God and is intimately loved by the Father. He knows every hair on our heads and every thought in our minds. Our souls are secure in His love. Because of this, we are asked to be witnesses to that love through our daily choices and actions.
I began this reflection by naming my own fears and anxieties—real parts of my daily life. But equally real are prayer, courage, and grace. I strive to meet my human weakness with ongoing, honest conversation with God. In that relationship, I trust His constant gifts of love and mercy.
I believe wholeheartedly that God loves me completely. He is my strength when I lack courage, my voice when I struggle to find the words, and my source of mercy when I fall short. I will continue to strive so as to not let fear silence my witness to Christ. I will not allow my human condition to define my story. Most importantly, I will not lose sight of my worth in God’s eyes.
We live in a world marked by fear and sin, but we are held by a God whose love is stronger than both. I invite you to join me in striving to live a life rooted in that love.