What can stop you from spreading the “Good News” of our faith to others? Is your faith in Jesus strong enough to help you overcome obstacles from those who doubt the power of Jesus? These are the questions given to us in our Gospel reading today.

Knowing the Jewish leaders were trying to kill Him, Jesus still goes secretly to the Feast of the Tabernacles in Jerusalem and teaches in the temple. Jesus is determined to complete the mission given Him by the Father, which at this time in His ministry is to reveal himself as the Son of God, the Messiah. We have the same mission! Through our Baptism, in our role as prophets for Jesus, our mission is to help others get to know Jesus and what he has accomplished for us.

What holds us back from accomplishing this mission? The two biggest obstacles are time and fear. Our vocational calling as a parent, single person, or to the ordained or consecrated life is an important part of our mission to reveal Jesus to others. However, we often allow ourselves to get overwhelmed in our daily vocational needs to the detriment of fulfilling our higher purpose of sharing our faith with others. If we “don’t have time” to dedicate to our mission, our vocational calling will be less effective.

The other tool Satan uses to hold us back from revealing Jesus to others is fear. We fear being rejected. We fear being mocked or otherwise persecuted. We fear being unqualified to talk to others about Jesus. How do we overcome our fear? Look to Jesus. Jesus so loved the Father that He willingly accepted human death, a torturous death by crucifixion, so that He could accomplish the mission given Him by the Father. Do you truly know and believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who died for you? Or like the inhabitants in today’s Gospel, do you just know Jesus as the carpenter’s son? Knowing and believing what Jesus sacrificed for you should give you the courage to ask the Holy Spirit to overcome your fear. Yes, you may be mocked, rejected, or even persecuted. But the eternal reward far outweighs any temporary suffering we may have to endure. Feeling unqualified? Join the club! We are all unqualified on our own. But Jesus and His Holy Spirit are always with us to give us the words to say, the courage to act, and the wisdom to share our faith effectively.

Allow Jesus fully into your heart. Unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. Pray to the Father as Jesus did in Gethsemane, “Father, not my will but your will be done.” Then be prepared for the joy that will fill your heart and soul.

Today’s Questions for Prayer and Reflection

What holds you back from telling others about Jesus?  What will you do to eliminate this obstacle?