Franklin Roosevelt, I believe, said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” I heard another quote from an upcoming movie about fear not being real. All this may be true but sadly we all live in fear and politicians control us often with fear, fear of terrorism or communism, fear of nuclear war, fear of crime and violence. The answer to these fears, drones to combat terrorism, more nuclear bombs, or more guns to thwart crime often creates more fear and more of what we fear.
I am afraid of having ‘dementia’ like my dad who died of Alzheimer. I did not fear it too much until recently, because of change of medicine or more tension became more and more forgetful with short term memory less. It might not be anything but now I want to get tested.
When I was young, reading the Gospel, I wondered why Jesus often said: “Be Not Afraid”. Now I sense why. Fear of lost often drives us.
When I first met Michael Cullen, the local founder of the Catholic Worker house of hospitality, Casa Maria, he seemed fearless. When food, supplies and money were low at the house, Mike would often say not to worry, God will provide. I did worry but the next day someone who comes by with food or money donation and we survived.
Today I heard our St. Vincent De Paul conference is low on money and the President says we should not offer vouchers on beds, stoves and refrigerators the basic needs of many families. We have an abundance of money in our parish and we are guardians of a million dollars plus that was given to us with closing of and sale of three parishes in the poorest and most segregated part of the city.
We also have the ability to beg, something many throughout history in the church many holy people did, especially to share with the poor. But begging takes some overcoming fear.
“Be not afraid” can go a long to overcoming fear.
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