“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith. Fear is.” – Verna Dozier
I don’t know when we got it.
The angel which tops our Christmas tree.
But we have had her/him for a long time.
For as many Christmases as I can remember.
I like seeing her/him there.
Especially this year because I have found myself pondering the Fear Not Angels of Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus.
Remember how the story goes?
An angel or angels appear
To Zechariah.
To Mary.
To the shepherds.
And the first thing they say is:
Fear not.
Which is probably a good thing because my reaction at having an angel appear like that would be something close to fear. And, truth be told, even with their Fear Not greeting, I would probably be at least a bit wary.
Anyway…
I have been thinking about what it means to Fear Not when there is, obviously, much to fear.
Covid.
Another school shooting.
Politicians who, with what they say, create space for violence.
Hate crimes.
And, as Brother Roger, founder of the Taize Community in France, wrote:
(Please excuse the non-inclusive language)
“Man’s inhumanity to man.”
Yet…
In spite of…
Or, because of…
All which surrounds us and which surrounded them, the angels appear with their greeting.
Fear not.
Speaking, I think, not just about their sudden, surprising appearance and message, but about how we are called to live today.
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