RBWords

     "Fear" plays a role in both scriptures for today!  In the first scripture, from the First Letter of John, we read in the last lines: There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.  Again and again in the scriptures, we are told, "Do not be afraid!"  Well......what can we say?  In the gospel scripture for today from the Gospel of Mark we are faced with two kinds of fear:  fear of ghosts and fear of life!  It's hard enough on those disciples to get in a boat with their stomachs full of bread that seemed to appear from nowhere and get caught in a storm!  Even if some of them were fishermen, it wouldn't be a good situation!  Now add to that a fear of ghosts!  When Jesus gets into the boat, the fears are settled, but the disciples are more astonished than convinced.  The gospel says that they had not understood what happened with the bread, and so Jesus' walking on water and calming a storm was not likely to increase their understanding!!!  As the gospel says, "On the contrary, their hearts were hardened."  Maybe the most any of them could say was, "Bread or no bread, that's my last boat trip!"

     It is not easy to live in fear.  What kind of love will help all those fleeing in fear from the violence in Syria?  What kind of love will help those in fear of deportation?  What kind of love will help us with ordinary "phobias" that make our daily life miserable?  What kind of love will help those who live in abusive relationships?  How do we conquer our fear of our own ghosts and let Jesus get into the boat and calm things down?  Maybe our greatest fear is the fear of a kind of love that can "cast out fear!"  If we get comfortable with those fears, we may never experience the love Jesus has to offer!  But, if we really want to face the fears, we can be sure that Jesus will get into our boat!  AMEN