Do not be afraid

Letter to the Romans 4:1-8. 

Brothers and sisters: What then can we say that Abraham found, our ancestor according to the flesh?
Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works, he has reason to boast; but this was not so in the sight of God.
For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.
But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
"Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record."



Psalms 32(31):1-2.5.11. 

Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.



Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12:1-7. 

At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, "Beware of the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees.
There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows."

"Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.

 Do not be afraid"

In several places in Holy Scripture our most loving Savior assures us he is in constant care and watchfulness on our account; that he himself carries, and will always carry us in his breast, his heart, his inmost being…

Let us take great care not to place our trust on the power or favor of our friends, nor on our goods, nor our mind, our knowledge, our strength, nor on our good desires and resolutions, nor our prayers, nor even on the trust we feel ourselves to have in God, nor on human means nor any created thing but only on God’s mercy, It’s not that we shouldn’t employ the above mentioned things and contribute, on our part, all we can to overcome vice, to practise virtue, to carry out and fulfil the business God has set to hand and to perform the obligations attached to our situation in life. But we have to renounce any support and confidence we might have in such things and rely on the pure goodness of our Lord. In such a way that we are to take as much care and to work on our part as though we did not expect anything from God and, nevertheless, not rely on our own care and work either, as though we were not doing anything at all, but expecting everything from God’s mercy alone.