Fear

“Do not be afraid…” Luke 1:30 ~the angel to Mary

What an absolutely absurd thing to say to a teenage virgin who’s just been greeted by a dazzling angel…the angel who came to tell her she is about to become pregnant—with the savior of the world no less.

Yet, that is exactly the sort of God we have, an absurd one! Like Laura Daigle says in “How can it be?” I am guilty; ashamed of what I’ve done, what I’ve become; these hands are dirty; I dare not lift them up to the Holy one; You plead my cause; You right my wrongs; You break my chains; You overcome; You gave Your life; To give me mine; You say that I am free; How can it be?; How can it be?”

Truly only an absurd God would say such a thing—do such a thing, when I—along with everyone around me—knows that I am guilty. I have reason to fear, yet he sends others to tell me, “fear not” and “You are free”.

How can it be? I have been a Christian since I was 11 years old, yet that fact has not kept me from sinning, and still, he pleads my cause and says I am free.

I think what I’m wondering is if I’m to be Christ-like, who is in my life today that may need me to be God’s messenger to because they need to hear, “fear not” and “you are free”?

That is exactly what the Church is to be for one another, God’s messengers to remind us of who He is and how He truly sees us—rather than the way we see ourselves, much less the way we often talk to ourselves in such harsh and condemning manners.

Today, let’s open ourselves to seeing who around us needs to hear “fear not”, starting with ourselves and moving ever outward throughout our homes, workplaces, churches, and communities.