'Don't be afraid, speak out what Jesus reveals to you' is the message which is clearly heard in today's readings. The message of the Lord is identified with His person, therefore in proclaiming the Gospel we are 'declaring ourselves for him'.

The 'world' however does not accept the message because of the mysterious reality of sin which separates us from life and light and leads to the darkness of death. Therefore suffering and rejection on account of the message of the Good News which we preach are not just possible consequences but are the inevitable result. In fact in the beatitudes we are described as blessed if we receive such treatment on account of the Lord. It is not physical suffering and death we should fear but the power of evil which can lead us away from life and which we ask the Father daily to deliver us from.

It is deep trust in the almighty power yet gentle care of God our Father which enables us to persevere in our professing: a trust born in the 'dark' of prayer where we hear in 'secret' the encouraging 'whispers'. The only real fear we should have is that we would be seduced away from our relationship with Jesus through whom we are united with the Father.

The prophet Jeremiah gives us a striking Old Teastment picture of the Christian disciple in his role as preacher. His preaching is grounded on his personal relationship with the Lord in prayer. (see Jer. 15:16).