FEAR NOT
We
live in a time of great fear. Present situations tell us to be afraid.
And we listen to the lies of fear. Many things make us afraid. We fear
loneliness, rejection, sickness, poverty, violence, pain, getting old,
and facing death. In fact, we have been conditioned to avoid the reality
of death. But the truth is that someday, no matter how hard we try to
avoid it, we will die.
Most probably, Jesus also felt that fear when He heard about the death
of John the Baptist. They shared the same mission. Possibly, it also
occurred to Him that the same fate awaited Him. Was it the reason for
His withdrawal to a deserted place?
Jesus recognized fear but He did not give it power to control Him. In
the desert, He prayed. He faced the reality of the mysteries of life,
death and fear. Facing the reality led Him to a deeper union with God.
His communion with God the Father consumed all His fears, even the fear
of His own death. Jesus became more powerful than the sum of all our
fears. Trust in God and compassionate love for all dismissed His fears
and led Him to continue His ministry of compassion and love.
Perfect love casts out all fears. Jesus lives with a passionate love
for God and for all. In this passionate love, He finds the meaning of
His life and His death.
The call of the people who followed Him was heard amidst fear. It did
not stop Him from continuing His mission of being in solidarity with the
people. He heard their cry. He felt their need. He responded to their
lamentations. With unlimited love and solidarity, He embraced those who
were socially and religiously marginalized. He showed special compassion
to them. He embraced many weeping souls. He touched many aching hearts.
He became bread — broken and shared. Full of compassion for them, He
was moved by their hunger and called His disciples to feed them, as He
Himself knew what it meant to be hungry. Fr. Alex Balatbat
REFLECTION QUESTION:
What are you afraid of? Allow the love of God to consume your fears.
His love impels us to respond to the call of compassion to everyone.
Lord,
let Your love transform my fearful heart into a compassionate heart — a
heart that creates miracles; a heart that impels us to be like bread
that is broken and shared. Amen.
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