“Do not be afraid.”

The words before this, though they are not part of our reading today, are worth reading. “Seek God’s kingdom and all these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

What delightful and amazing and amusing words.

The people following Jesus are to pursue the kingdom. Peter and Judas. John and Thomas. Mary and Mary and Mary.

In the face of earthly kingdoms. In the face of opposition and death. In the face of insurmountable odds, we are to set ourselves to look for the ways that the values of the kingdom of God can and are expanding around us.

And when we look at them and each other and our mirrors, we say, “Us? In our fragileness and inadequacy, the kingdom here?”

Jesus smiles.

“Little flock,” he says.

It’s a term of endearment. An affectionate acknowledgement that we don’t look like much.

The good shepherd looks at the sheep gathered in front of him, depending on his protection and his leadership and his guidance to water and food and safety, depending on his good will. He says, “Little flock” and some of them are reminded of the times he talks about a shepherd going looking for a lost sheep, a shepherd leading the flock to safety, the sheep knowing that voice, trusting that voice.

And Jesus says,

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

You don’t have to fight for it or earn it. You don’t have to be tall enough for the ride to get into the kingdom. It has been given to you.

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This week, we are reflecting on these texts from Sunday: Hebrews 11:1-16 and Luke 12:32-40