fear not
The one emotion least associated with Christmas is fear, but throughout the
Christmas story we hear the words, “Fear not.”
When the angel first appeared to Zacharias, “he was troubled and fear
fell upon him.” But the angel said to him, “Fear not.” His prayers had been
answered and his aged wife Elizabeth was to bear him a son, whose name was
to be John. And the angel assured him, “thou shalt have joy and gladness.”
Whe n the angel appeared to Mary, she was understandably troubled.
But the angel also said to her: “Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with
God.”
When John was born and Zacharias’ tongue was loosed to name him,
“fear came upon all around them” who wondered “what manner of child shall
this be?” But Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and said: “Blessed be the
Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.” He assured
them that they were being delivered by God out of the hand of their enemies
and “might serve Him without fear.”
When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds “as the glory of the
Lord (shining) round about them, they were sore afraid.” But the angel also
calmed them: “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people.”
Mary, Joseph and Jesus – and also the Wise Men – had to flee in fear of
Herod, but were all delivered into peace.
So fear is a part of the Christmas story. We are fearful in the face of the
Lord if we do not feel worthy – as did Zacharias, and Mary, and the shepherds.
And Herod is always lurking. But when Mary was asked to accept a fearful
role, she did not shrink from it, but said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it unto me according to Your Word.”
What we are asked to do may not be as daunting but is no less a calling – to
allow the Lord to be born in us and to accept Him into our lives. And we are
also told, “fear not,” for we have the same assurance of the true Christmas gift:
“good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.”
(BMH)
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