US President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said in his inaugural address that “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” His words were addressed to a people who were in the grips of the Great Depression, struggling with massive unemployment and financial insecurity. They were a challenge to the American people to confront the problems they were facing head on, instead of allowing doubt and fear to hold them back.
In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus does something similar. He reminds the crowds to not be afraid, and to recall God’s love for his people, who are created in His image and likeness. Jesus’ words, however, are about far more than simply tackling our problems in the present moment. They also serve as a reminder to us that there is more to our existence than this present life. When we give in to our fears, it can often keep us rooted in the here and now, and prevent us from focusing on God’s promises, and His desire to help us grow in holiness. Our fear can cause us to doubt God’s love for us, to withdraw from others, and even to lose hope in eternal life.
Jesus challenges us to move beyond our fears, and to never forget the promises that God makes to his people. He reminds us to not be afraid of circumstances in this present life that cannot alter our eternal destiny- in other words, don’t sweat the small stuff! This reminder is even true when we consider our own sinfulness. Too often, I think that we as human beings can fall into the trap of perfectionism, which causes us to fear God’s punishment when we sin. Jesus, however, knows our human nature, and is willing to offer us his forgiveness, through the Power of the Holy Spirit. The question is, are we willing to be gentle with ourselves, and allow ourselves to fully experience God’s healing love?
In our First Reading today, the Prophet Jeremiah’s words are a powerful reminder to us of Jesus’ lesson in the Gospel. When we face persecutions and difficulties in our lives, we can use these words to remind us that God is always with us, and that he will put our enemies to shame- especially the enemies of sin and death. My prayer for all of us is that we can more fully experience the love of God in our lives, and learn to move beyond our fears, to a deeper faith in God’s promises.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB