What a bold and CLEAR instruction from Jesus in our Gospel: Fear no one. Just as He’s about to send His disciples out into the world to spread the Gospel … He asserts: Fear no one. To concentrated on this directive from Christ, we first need to look at fear in general. How it influences us and what healthy fear should look like. Then, what a life of following the instruction: Fear no one, should look like.
First, fear. Let’s look at the negative aspects of it. It’s common place of political theory, that if you want to control or manipulate someone, the key is … learning what they are afraid of. If someone loves the reputation of their name. Threaten them with dragging their name through the mud or defaming them … and control is yours. If these words in Scripture are alive and meant to affect us in 2020 … let me ask you. What are you afraid of? What do you have to lose? Health? Home? Status? How could others try to control you with your fear?
In addition, what sins do we commit on our own from fear? Gossiping or tearing someone down because they are afraid of being left out or not part of the group. Stealing or changing how many hours of work done because … well I’m afraid of bills this month. In short if we let an emotion run things … we’ll compromise. Maybe at first, we commit small compromises and sins … but those will just lead to more serious, poor choices that form us into people we don’t want to be.
In short, we can see why Christ’s instructions are so critical for us. In order for us to remain free and pursue heaven, we have to know which fears are the most critical to us, and consciously fight them.
And probably the best way to fight fear is to know the positive aspects of it. Fear is meant to be a good thing. It stops us from going down dark dangerous alleys. It makes us contemplate when a friend dares you to jump off a roof or something like that. Fear is meant to be healthy, because it is meant to make us pause and say, ok … what is the best for me.
Now with an understanding of that fear CAN make us suspectable to be controlled and maybe even lead us to sins … we need to see what it means to FEAR NO ONE. And there is a great example in our first reading if you caught it. The prophet Jeremiah is the prophet of woe … the people have gone so far off the rails, and God asked Jeremiah to deliver the bad news. You guys are DOOMED if keep living this way. But what does preaching the truth get him? He’s been rejected, made fun of, persecuted, and imprisoned. If anyone has anything to fear from acting … it’s Jeremiah. Yet, in the midst of everything, he knows that God ultimately wins out. He can’t be controlled or manipulated, because Jeremiah fears losing God above any other earthly consequence.
For us to live like Jeremiah, we need to each day take into account that there IS an afterlife. The devil influences us with fear based upon some scary future, with not enough money, not enough companionship, and not enough health. This clouds our vision, and we lose sight of God in the midst of everything. We lose the ANCHOR that after all of this. After this life … there exists a heaven and hell. That’s the main truth that should influence my decisions.
If we live like this … it puts fear in its place. Yes, there could be a lack of money … But Jesus always had a preferential treatment and love of the poor, because wealth didn’t distract them so much from looking to God for love and care. What about, my health could be lost at any moment! True, but wouldn’t it be better to remember that this life is temporary anyway? Why obsess over something I can’t fully control. Side note: Sometimes, after my own confessions, there’s a little thought … I could get hit by a bus … and I’m good to go. Health is a gift when I have it, but not the end of the world when I don’t.
I know we live in a time of fear right now. But that’s why I desire each of us to pray about fear! Politically, as a believer in Christ, you can kind of step back and get a LOT of perspective on how people are using fear. If you vote for me, I’ll protect you from what you’re afraid of! If you vote for them … those things are going to happen! Be more at peace. People aren’t your saviors … Jesus is.
Overall today, if you have come to understand that you make decisions influenced by fear more than you would like, it’s time to take that realization to God. Ask our Lord to help you articulate and think about what you are afraid of AND more importantly WHY you are afraid of it. Naming fears in a prayer life is a wonderful way to connect with God. Maybe practice that the rest of this mass. Lord, what are my fears? Lord, WHY are those my fears? Over time … if you meditate and learn more about God’s plan for your salvation it really will give you confidence in Him that casts out all unhealthy fear.
In summary, today we looked at the readings and saw how fear rules too much. Fear is meant to be healthy, to help us in our preparations for life. Instead, fear leads us to become anxious to the point where I can be manipulated and even make sinful decisions. Second, fear is meant to be contextualized or be understood in the light of heaven and hell. We aren’t supposed to fear those that can harm the body … but fear those who lead us to sin … to harm the soul. At the core … Do I trust God enough? Overall, I want to help remove anxiety from your lives. You’re not meant to constantly live with it. Yes, it will take effort on your part, but I promise, time spent in study and prayer … directed at Trusting in God will lead to wonderful things. Perhaps then we can live as Christ even taught us … to fear no one … since they can only harm the body, but I have an eternity to live because of my soul.
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