Living Without Fear

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Living Without Fear”

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Seized by fear...Paralyzed by fear. These are just a few of the ways to describe the trauma that fear can have on us. At times our fears seem to gang up on us and we feel powerless over them. We fear the loss of a loved one. We fear our own mortality, the loss of a job or economic status, our sanity. We fear loosing our youth, our friends, or pretty much anything that is dear to us. Being fearful, worrying about things over which we have no control, saps us of the energy and vitality that rightfully belongs to today.

Jesus is on record for telling us not to be afraid. Today’s reading is one of many of them. “Fear no one”, “And do not be afraid…” The Lord knows that we are like little children and that we need to be told over and over again that our Dad will always be there when we need Him. He reassures us that our fate is in the hands of our heavenly father who is more concerned about us than we can ever imagine. God, who cares for the sparrow and watches over the lilies of the fields, cares infinitely more about us. He even counts the hairs on our heads!

More than just instructing His listeners on a wholesome way of living, we see Jesus putting these words into practice all through His ministry. We see Jesus pass through “terrors on every side” and not give way to fear. We see Him challenged and persecuted by the religious leaders of His day and He does not weaken or become weak-kneed. When He is beaten and nailed to the Cross, He utters not a word of anger. How is Jesus able to do this? Because in the words of Jeremiah, Jesus puts His trust in the Lord, “O Lord of hosts,...for to you I have entrusted my cause”.

Jesus came into the world to teach us to fear nothing, not even those who can harm us physically. Through His life and activities He has given us example so that we too can have the confidence to put our trust in our heavenly Father who loves us without limit and who seeks to rid us from every fear seeking to seize our hearts and would have us live our lives under its power.   

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image Credit: The Scream, by Edvard Munch