(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mass-Blog-for-the-6th-Sunday-of-Easter-2022.mp3)
Between pandemics and wars alone, fear seems to be consuming the world. The Methodist church on our city’s public square recently noted that trend on its messaging sign with a simple “Psalms 34:4.”
Readers looking that one up will find this:
“Magnify the LORD with me; and let us exalt his name together.
Doing so in a fearful world marked by borders separating us by language, culture, nationality and belief system is an ancient challenge. Many of our borders were inspired by fear of human differences, which is why the common denominator of Jesus’s ministry was love. Paradoxically, claiming kingship of that kingdom led to his crucifixion. Following their master’s death, his disciples continued their mission, constantly and courageously crossing fear’s borders.
As we read in Acts this Sunday (Acts 15:1-2, 22-29), many hiding behind those borders while clinging to the comforts of the Mosaic laws under which their persecuted ancestors survived saw Jesus’s good news of universal grace as a threat. They were taught, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” The disciples had to walk that fine borderline carefully so they could gradually dispel the fear of human borders:
“It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right.”
Then we read in the Book of Revelation about the vision of a borderless world supported by a spiritual infrastructure (Rev 21:10-14, 22-23): “I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.”
How many times did Jesus advise, “Do not be afraid”? It was among the last things he told his disciples (Jn 14:23-29): “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’”
Preparing his way back to us in a way he’ll be visible around the world will require an unbounded multiplication of humanity’s magnification levels so we can see his love among us.
–Tom Andel
The devil uses fear to manipulate and distract us from loving God and living out his commandments. He constantly sows seeds of doubt which prey on our insecurity. The Covid pandemic, if you want to call it that, magnified fear and uncertainty to the point where even the Church capitulated. Instead of opening the doors of our churches to seek refuge and courage in the Lord, they were closed and locked, denying the faithful access to the sacraments and the ability to draw strength from Jesus in tabernacles all over the world.
How sad. Love being replaced by fear.
I heard it said somewhere “be not afraid.” I suppose if it is for this life only we live, fear of becoming sick and dying would justify the ultra cautious approach the Church took. I thought we were living for eternal life which we cannot possess until we pass on to it. If we cling to this life………
It would be good for all of us–especially church leaders–to remember one of Jesus’ final prayers to his Father about being IN, not OF this world (JOHN 17:14-18): “I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.”
Truth is the only force field that matters in this world, and THAT’s the one we must protect from degradation.