“Do not be afraid of men,” says Jesus. He is speaking about fearing those who persecute them because of their faith. In the verses preceding this Gospel passage, he tries to prepare us for persecution and says that just as they did to him (Jesus), they would do it to his followers. But he triumphed over his persecutors. They could not stop him. And that is what he promises us as well. We cannot be destroyed as long as we maintain that faith.
The best way to maintain our faith is by giving it to others. It may sound like a contradiction, but it means that when we share our faith, our own faith grows. And when we allow others to share their faith with us, we feel encouraged and supported.
Sometimes we may hesitate to speak about our faith. The only thing we should fear is our own weakness, not the power of Satan. That is why Jesus said that whoever denies him before men will also deny him. However, Jesus died for our sins, so not even they can destroy us if we turn back to the Lord. So give thanks for his forgiveness, but do not forget to spread the news that you have been forgiven. You might encourage another person to find the courage to return to the Lord, and thus achieve another victory of faith that overcomes fear.
By Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications