103 posts 5/24/2007 2:19 am
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5/24/2007 5:36 pm
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Why We Are Not To Be Afraid... Part I
Why We Are Not To Be Afraid
Fear plays a great part in our lives. We fear so many things! We fear accidents, the death of loved one, sickness, theft, rumors, unemployment, marriage breakup, old age, bankruptcy, failures, flunking an exam, not being able to pay the mortgage, not getting a promotion, becoming fat and so on. The list is endless. Fear is one of our greatest trials. And yet, it is so unreasonable, because fearing what can happen to us is really waste of time, since most of the things we fear will never happen. Moreover, even if a few of the things we fear do eventually happen, fearing them in advance forces us to endure them twice once in imagination and once in reality. Not to mention that obsession with the future can ruin the present.
It has been said that the commandment most often repeated in the Bible is this one. “Do not be afraid.” Whatever or not that is true is difficult to say. However, it is certainly true that in the Bible God or messengers speaking in his name very frequently enjoin people not to fear. We see Jesus telling his disciples: “Do not be afraid.” For example, as we have just heard it reads to us, in our gospel passage Jesus tells his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” And he tells them this during the Last Supper, on the eve of his death, after having announced that he was about to leave them (John 13:33)! Naturally, in itself this piece of news would even reason enough for them to become fearful, wouldn’t it. Yet, Jesus overrules it. The disciples are not to fear or be distressed. Why not? Because Jesus promises them three things which should amply compassionate for his absence and which, therefore, should enable them to overcome their fear.
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365 Days with the Lord
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