June 21, 2026 Essay: Known and Loved
Jesus said to the Twelve: “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”
At the heart of this Gospel is this: we do not need to live in fear.
Three times Jesus makes a point to tell his disciples not to be afraid. After all, fear has a way of making our lives feel smaller. Fear, too, can keep us from being honest with friends and family. Fear also prevents us from forming authentic relationships. At its worst, fear can even make us doubt our own worth.
Of course, as we know, the disciples had reason to be afraid. Following Jesus would bring a slew of criticism, massive amounts of rejection, and all sorts of misunderstandings. Yet Jesus calls them to live with courage because their lives are rooted in something deeper than the implicit and explicit approval of others. They are rooted in the love of God.
My absolute favorite part of this Gospel is when Jesus points to the sparrows, these tiny creatures of little value. Yet, as Jesus tells us, not a single one of them falls to the ground without God’s notice. How much more, then, does God care for each one of us? It astounds the mind to imagine, but God knows us intimately. Every one of our joys, struggles, hopes, and fears is known and held within God’s loving gaze.
As an LGBTQ Catholic, I find this message especially consoling. Like many in the community, I have experienced moments of feeling unseen, misunderstood, or uncertain about whether I really belong within the life of the church. And that’s why I have found this Gospel message so heartening: it reminds me that my belonging begins not with human acceptance but with God’s unwavering love. Before anyone else knows my story, God knows it. Before anyone else welcomes me, God does so first.
This Gospel also reminds us that God’s knowledge of us is never superficial. God does not love a perfect version of who we are, who our friends think we are, who our family wants us to be. God loves the real person: our strengths, our mistakes, our faith, our doubts, our gifts, our deep hurt, and our hopes. We do not need to earn that love. We need only receive it.
Jesus invites us all to live from that place of quiet confidence and assurance. When we know ourselves to be loved by God, we are freed from the need to hide. We become more capable of honesty, compassion and genuine discipleship. We can walk humbly and proudly by God’s side.
That decision to trust that God’s love is greater than our fears is one we can choose to make everyday. Our experiences in the world often encourages us to conceal our vulnerabilities. But Jesus offers another way. He invites us to stand confidently and humbly with God, knowing that like the little sparrow of the field, we are loved beyond measure.
“Do not be afraid.” It is not only a command, but a promise.
— Conor Reidy, Executive Director of Outreach