Some people leave their homes and go to work with the poorest of the poor in far flung third world countries …. but we are not those people. Some people fund raise tirelessly day in and day out for those who are sick or homeless and living in poverty …. but we are not those people. Some people campaign endlessly to end injustice and cruelty … but we are not those people.  We are not those people! Why not?

We are capable of doing great things, but most of us don’t come anywhere near meeting our potential. We are afraid to step out of the comfort zone of our well-worn lifestyles, jobs and homes. We are afraid of the unknown, of failure, disruption and discomfort. In short, we lack the necessary courage.

In the face of a sometimes hostile and sceptical world, Jesus asks us to have the courage of our convictions. The Church today is built on the courage of those who have refused to compromise their beliefs. Today’s gospel urges us to be courageous. “Fear no one,” Jesus advises us. Why fear those who can make life temporarily uncomfortable when God has our everlasting interests at heart?

Today’s gospel teaches us an important lesson; courage is all to do with self-worth. If you feel you are worthless you are easily intimidated, but if you feel you do have worth, your conviction will lend you real courage. So do we     appreciate our worth? Jesus convinces us that even the sparrows that are two a penny have worth in God’s eyes, so how much more worth have we. We have an individual worth to God who has counted each and every hair on our heads. We all have great potential. We all have something to offer …. no excuses, no exceptions.