Welcoming Christmas Into Fear
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
When I hear the words, “Fear not” I think about the paradox of fear. Fear is another one of those sacred paradoxes (my favorite theological topic) where something unexpectedly hallowed lies. Fear itself isn’t bad, it’s necessary. It’s how we respond to it, accept or deny it, in ourselves, relationships, communities, religions, and societies that matters. In a family favorite, Maya Angelou’s, “Amazing Peace; A Christmas Poem” her sapient message shares, “Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters, streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope and singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air. The world is encouraged to come away from rancor, come the way of friendship…” Imagine how our world might be different if we welcomed Christmas into fear. Not the kind of Christmas that continually distracts us from facing fear, but the incarnational Christmas that embraces it, and arrives saying, “Emmanuel, God with us!”
Courage doesn’t ignore fear, but acknowledges it, and does something about it. Courage garners strength in the midst of fear, enabling us to face it, embrace it, and become whole. The Courage of believing “Fear not” transforms fear-based ignorance into fear-embracing transformation. When we fear the Lord, we are transformed. We are not afraid of God, but we are filled with courage. When Jesus said, “I commend my spirit” or when Mary said, “Here am I” they trembled bravely before Mystery with great faith, unlike Herod or other leaders whose shadows remain so deeply unconscious, avoided, ignored, denied, that it drives a fear-driven push of egomaniacal power to the denial and detriment of self and others.
Our sacred scripture is woven with verses telling us to not be afraid. Is. 44:8, 54:4, 51:7, Acts 18:9, Joshua 10:25, Jeremiah 46:27, 30:10, Zech. 8:15, Lk. 12:4, Mt. 28:10, 14:27, Mk. 5:36, Jn 14:25, Pr. 1:7 & 29:25, and so on. These repeated reminders are there for good reason, and for a blessing.
May we call upon the God of Light to illumine shadow, so as to discern prayerfully and faithfully the difference between fear as paranoia, and fear as humble courage. Let us believe the Holy Instruction to “Fear Not” so that we may allow light to shine within us, and to keep from squelching the light of others.
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