Soul-Killers

Jesus said to the Twelve: "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And 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 soul and body in Gehenna.

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father." (Matthew 10:26-33)

I’m not impressed by being worth more than many sparrows.  Now, I would be impressed if I was worth more than many ospreys or hawks or great horned owls.  Those are BIRDs!  Then again, doesn’t humility dictate I stay with the sparrow comparison? Even the “little ones” don’t escape the Father’s attention.  The little sparrows wouldn’t deny the Father before others.  However, the more independent and proud raptors might.

Sorry Jesus, I would be afraid of those who would kill my body despite my soul remaining “alive.” I’m not ready to free my soul from my body.  However, we all need to be afraid of soul-killers.  They seem to lurk everywhere trying to de-spirit us and bend us to their will – not God’s.  I especially speak of those who spread disinformation and misinformation and use artificial intelligence (AI) to befuddle and mold us in their image – not God’s.  

Jesus said to the Twelve: "Fear no one.”  He says the same to us all the while insisting we remain vigilant and refuse to “fall to the ground” on our knees where we serve the tempters and raptors who tear at our souls.

Deacon David Pierce