Homily 19th Sunday - Be Not Afraid

Fear; a basic and necessary emotional reaction to a perceived threat. Fear; we sense something that is a danger to ourselves, to our wellbeing, to who and what we consider important to us.  And as we grasp what makes us fearful, so we grasp a better understanding of ourselves. And what we perceive as important; and what keeps us from acting with goodness.

There is a distinction in the Spanish language that we lack in English. In Spanish, when people are thirsty, or hungry, or scared, they say “I have hunger, I have thirst, I have fear.” (Tengo hambre, tengo sed, tengo miedo). The implication that this experience will go away once dealt with; it does not define the person.  English, well we tend to lack that sophistication. We would say “I AM hungry, thirsty, or scared” It seems to imply this experience is part of our being. 

Jesus says “BE not afraid!” He does not say “never have fear”, but rather, do not let fear control you. Jesus certainly experienced fear. It is dramatically shown in the garden when he confronts within himself what he wants to do and not do. Yet, he chooses loves, and he acts with love.  However, in the amazing Gospel, clearly there is no fear here on his part. He seems to be calmly walking on water, amid the chaos of the storm.

Do not let fear control us.   When fear controls us, it limits us; limits the mission; it limits the world.  There seems to be a lot of perceived threats out there now. Climate change, COVID, uncertain finances, political chaos; school starting up; these are global ones. There are others more personal, people are dying of cancer, people without jobs, fearful of immigration issues; fearful of their reputations, fearful that a comfortable life is being taken from them.  

Do NOT be Afraid!

In the first letter of John, chapter 4, it says perfect love casts out fear.  Love sees beyond the self, and “my” needs, wants and desires to a bigger picture. Love sees beyond my perceived fears. Love sees a need in the other and inspires action.  

In the midst of all this fear, where is our love?  

Peter walks on the water, amazing right? He keeps his vision on Jesus, he does good. He keeps his vision on the other and we walks forward.  When his fears take over, when he worries about this wellbeing, when his focus goes to the wind and waves, the chaos, then he sinks. He cries out and immediately Jesus extends his hand and rescues him.

Where is our love, our focus?  Jesus commands us to Love! So that we will be free! So that this world can be free! So much suffering in our world I think is because we are so scared. So much suffering is reduced when we love.

For some, clearly, their focus is on the helping of others. There are people in these times who are giving of themselves to help those who struggle because they have no jobs, they lack food stability; they lack financial stability. There are people who are giving of themselves to help those who have fled countries that are in horrible states of violence and unrest. There are people who are helping those who are dying of sickness. People wearing protection for the safety of others. This love in action.  This is Church at its best.

Clearly others are more worried about themselves and their things, and of their egos, their so called rights, and ideas of how they want the world to be. Their status. They ignore the needs of others. They become so focused on the wind, the chaos...  Living in fear, being in fear. This is church at its worst.

There is a spiritual practice. It is to daily register in prayer, what fears do we have? And to do so without self judgement or critique. We acknowledge our fears, look at what they point to; what do we perceive as important? Then we ask ourselves what do we have control over, and that answer is simple, only ourselves and very little of that. So we work on that which we have control over, and the remainder...We give that to God to work on.

And of course what we can do is love.

We have THE Sacrament of LOVE. A visible sign of the invisible reality that Love conquers all fear. Consumed by us, to be broken and shared with others.

So that having fear, we do not have to Be afraid.