When the apostles saw Jesus walking on water, Saint Matthew writes that they weren’t just scared or shaken up, they were terrified. “It is a ghost!,” they said. They had no idea what was happening as a figure approached them.
Have you ever been terrified? It’s such a strong word. I can think of many times that I’ve been scared, uncertain, afraid… but terrified?
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid!” are the words of Jesus to them.
These are reminiscent of the words of the angels to the shepherds in the fields after the birth of Jesus, “Fear not, for behold we bring tidings of great joy! Tonight, is born in the city of Bethlehem a child who is Christ the Lord!” Likewise, the Annunciation when the Archangel Gabriel greeted the Virgin Mary saying, “Fear not, for you have found favor with God!”
Some have counted, and say the words “Fear Not” appear 365 times in the Bible, once per day of the year.
Why is it that we experience so much fear? Even when we are in the presence of something very good? What are the things that cause us fear?
As children, we’re afraid of the dark, or the boogie man. As adults though, we all still face many fears.
The fear of failure, the fear of being ridiculed or being forgotten, the fear of not being noticed or considered, the fear of illness, the fear of loss, the fear of the unknown or unexpected. Some people live paralyzed with fear, unable to make a decision due to the fear and anxiety they experience. Just watch some television and you see how the news and politicians play on our collective fears many times to get their way.
I ask you today: where do you experience fear? Where is Jesus stretching out his hand to you and saying like he did to Peter, “take courage, it is I; do not be afraid!”
I recently returned from World Youth Day in Lisbon where hundreds of thousands of young people gathered for days of prayer, fellowship and union with Pope Francis. The opening ceremony gathered half a million people at a park in downtown Lisbon, the final Mass brought together over 1.5 million in a large field outside the city.
During the Opening Ceremony, Pope Francis addressed the crowd and said, “each one of us has been called by name by Jesus. We are called because we are loved: in God’s eyes, we are precious children.”
Reflecting on today’s Gospel, I add to the Pope’s words, “if this is the case, that we are called by name by Jesus and that we are God’s precious children, then why are we afraid?”
Pope Francis continued, “We are not a community of the perfect, but we are called as we are, with our problems, with our limitations, with our joys and with our wish to become better. We are all called as we are. God loves us not as we want to be, but as we are.”
I ask again then, “if this is the case, that God calls us as we are even with our defects and limitations, then why are we afraid?”
The Pope ended his address saying, “If God calls you by name, you are not a number, you are a face. You are precious in his sight. You are loved.”
Why is it that we forget how much we are loved, and allow fear to enter our hearts?
When the sea became stormy, the apostles forgot everything Jesus had taught them. He reprimanded them, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Once Jesus got on the boat, the wind died down, the apostles remembered that they were not alone, and all was well.
How do we respond to the storms of life? Do we forget the promises Jesus has made to us? Even when we face our greatest fears, perhaps including illness and death, do we remember the promise of eternal life?
We have nothing to fear, because God is with us. He allows us to face tomorrow with confidence, because He is with us.
Saint Paul wrote to Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” Love casts away all fear.
We pray today that we may not lose sight of Jesus in our midst – that we surrender to his love and mercy our fears and insecurities, trusting that in Him, we have nothing to fear.
Picture taken from the Public Domain
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