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Do not be afraid. How often do we hear those words? Jesus himself tells us at least twice in today's gospel. The Bible constantly teaches us this salient truth. Some say it's about a hundred times. These words are mentioned. Why? Because we need courage to offset fear. We need courage to keep on going when there are addiction problems, money problems, health problems, relationship problems. Courage gives us reasons to believe that it will work out. Courage gives us the ability to change our lives. Courage is vital to our salvation so that we can remain faithful to our vocation and not lose hope in heaven. Note also how the Lord reminds us, as does the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, that in spite of what is happening around you or to you, God will sort it out in the long run. Within that context we are also told that we should not be a self appointed vigilante, seeking justice here and now. In order to help us be patient, God reminds us that He is the just judge, and that everything now covered will one day be uncovered. It will be sorted by Him. Does this not imply a sense of passivity? Not really. We should become inactive in being critical of others when there is no just reason, but not uncritical in dealing with ourselves. Our number one enemy is not the person next door, but rather the one we see in the mirror each day. We are the bent creatures. Bent is a CS Lewis term well described in his novel Paralandra about original innocence and the fall. His point is that each one of us is not true to type. We are enfeebled by our fallen nature. Often we forget that nature is flawed in the same way that when one is on a walk and close to the trees, then he forgets that he's also in the forest. One domain that infects us all is our warped sense of sensitivity. Are we not all prone to be too vulnerable at times? Are we not a trifle too emotive and thin skinned? Fine natures like fine vases after all readily crack. Do we not feign poor me when we are the ones who suffer from envy, ungratified vanity or flouted self will? To safeguard our precious thin skin, we pretend that we have been hurt, and it often wins. Others quickly give in. But note that they give in not because they don't know what is really wrong with us, but because they have long known all too well our nature. Is courage the best course of action for those with thin skins? I wonder. So be tough oneself first. Toughen up, one might say. Get a thick skin and move on. At the same time, be consoled that you belong to that class of hardy souls who know that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. One soul not bent on being overly sensitive and most tough within was Saint Thomas Moore. At fifty seven years old in fifteen thirty five, he was executed by the state after being tortured in the Tower of London. We all know the story of Thomas Moore, as Chancellor of England during the reign of King Henry VIII, who would not concede to the royal decree regarding Henry's divorce and remarriage. Henry, filled with lust and power, eventually had six wives, and when the Catholic Church would not change to concede to his illicit marriage, he changed the church and appointed himself as head of the English or Anglican one. Thomas, however, who was once a deep and good friend of the crown and royal and loyal subject, and known for being just an honorable statesman, could not betray his conscience. His mental toughness was surely tested, when while enduring tremendous hardship in the tower, his beloved daughter Meg was permitted to visit to remonstrate with him in the hope that he might sway from his convictions. After all, had not all the Catholic bishops conceded to Henry's will, all except the Bishop of Rochester, Saint John Fisher, who was also murdered in that same year. Imagine to yourself how difficult it was for him to remain calm and not emotional or thin skinned in those circumstances. At such times much grace was given to him, so as to bolster the will, so that he was not afraid. When he was being unjustly executed, he exclaimed that he was the king's good servant, but God's first. Some time ago, Saint John Paul named Thomas More as patron for statesmen and politicians, so that through his intercession they too may be thick skinned and not prey to passing fancies in the media.