Do not be afraid
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Matthew 3: 1-12
“They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full
of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.”
Isaiah 11:9 (New Revised Standard Version)
When our children were very young we would sometimes be awakened by the sounds of their footsteps coming down the hallway in the middle of the night. Then we would hear a little voice: “Mommy, Daddy, I had a bad dream. I’m scared.” After a time of reassurance and comfort, our children would (usually!) return to their beds, and sweeter dreams.
Fear has its place in human life. The sensation of being afraid can put our senses on alert, and help us to read signs of danger that might otherwise be missed. But faithfulness can also mean the experience of fearlessness: the joy of living without the threat of being harmed. Jesus repeatedly encouraged his friends with these words: “do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid of the impossible, of what might never come to pass, or that we might not be up to the challenges of life.
The prophet, Isaiah, imagined a time without the necessity of fear. Children would play without regard for the dangers of wild animals. Lambs would not have not to be scanning the horizon for wolves. These are poetic ways of describing life without fear as a corrosive force. To realize this world we need a fearless faith that includes the courage to forgive, to welcome the stranger, and to speak of justice. It is faith that, no matter what, God is with us and for us.
Prayer: O God, help us to hear and receive the gentlest of commandments: “be not afraid.” And as we embody the power of fearlessness in our lives, help us to be experiences of comfort and reassurance for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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