self-love and fearless evangelization
"Do not be afraid of anything. You are worth more than an entire flock of sparrows." —Matthew 10:31
Jesus repeatedly commands us to speak His word in the light and proclaim it from the rooftops (Mt 10:27). We must acknowledge Jesus before men (Mt 10:32) and never be ashamed of the gospel (Rm 1:16).
However, the devil tries to stop our proclamation of the gospel by trying to intimidate us through fear of death and of other things (Mt 10:26, 28, 31).
The good news is that Jesus has given us the grace to be unaffected by Satan's intimidations. The Lord graces us to love ourselves and to recognize our self-worth in Him. We then know we are worth more than an entire flock of sparrows (Mt 10:31). In fact, we are of inestimable worth because we are children of God, bought at the price of Jesus' blood (1 Cor 6:20). We are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people He claims for His own to proclaim the glorious works of the One Who called (us) from darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pt 2:9).
For you to tell the world about Jesus, let Jesus tell you about yourself. Then you will be a free, fearless witness for Jesus. Love yourself so you will love your neighbors by giving them the greatest gift, the good news of Jesus (see Mt 22:39). Love yourself into fearless evangelization.
Prayer: Father, if I love You, I will love myself and love my neighbor so much that I will tell them of Jesus' love.
Promise: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?' 'Here I am;' I said; 'send me!' " —Is 6:8
Praise: St. Henry, king of Bavaria, came from a holy family. His brother became a bishop, his sister married a saint, and another sister became abbess of a monastery. Finally, his wife also became a canonized saint.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, December 4, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 10, 2001