"So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men. I will declare myself for him in the presence of my father in heaven . . ." This is the assurance that Jesus promised us if we submit ourselves to His will. This presupposes that we have faith, freedom, and total dependence on God's providence in all our endeavours. So, in the Gospel passage, Jesus exhorts the disciples and today, addressing us, not to fear hostility and persecution but to remain steadfast and to bear witness to Him fearlessly. When we are confronted with the cross, difficulties and obstacles, we need to entrust ourselves to the Divine mystery and move on with hope against hope and trust in God.

On the other hand, if we renounce Jesus and His mission we fracture ourselves and submit to compromises. This will prevent us from experiencing freedom and happiness. However, a genuine experience of God gives us a deep security and it enables us to take risks for a good cause for we believe in God's all embracing love. This is what Prophet Isaiah experienced which moved him to a response to God's call to mission when he said, "Here I am, send me."

With this same confidence and hope we believe in what Blessed Nicolas Barre experienced, "whatever you'll experience will be in proportion to your faith, your hope and your love, and even more abundantly than that . . ."