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The confrontation with fear is something that has haunted humanity from the earliest times. And while the tough and macho claim to be immune to it, fear never seems to be in short supply. Some medical experts estimate half of all symptoms have their origin in fear. The patient fears losing a job, being exposed to injury or illness, losing a loved one, betrayal or old age - and the dread manifests itself in medical symptoms such as shortness of breath, migraines, or chest pains. The doctor examines the patient and discovers no physical cause, yet the pain is real. The fear that causes such symptoms is called "anxiety" - an unfocused, free-floating fear that won't go away. This sort of fear and anxiety is harmful in every way. The human body and soul wasn’t made for it and if it isn’t confronted in a healthy way, it will eat us alive.
On the other hand, there are other types of fear that are good, holy, and productive. Fear is meant to protect us from serious threats that could harm us. Only a fool would jump into an enclosure with a wild animal like a bear or gorilla to prove their courage. Only for a noble reason should any person enter a situation where death is a real possibility. It is good and holy to fear offending God by sin. God instilled a healthy fear within us to keep us safe physically and spiritually. It should guide and protect but never rule us.
I will freely admit that I felt fear during my week in the Grand Canyon. Some of it centered around the physical challenge of descending and ascending such difficult terrain. Did I train enough and properly? Was I dressed warmly enough? Was I listening for falling rocks? These were good fears that kept me safe but didn’t keep me from enjoying the canyon. There were other fears I had to learn to let go of; things like what would I smell like after a week with no shower and wearing the same clothes. How would I handle not having phone service or being in touch with the parish? Should I worry about random rabid squirrels or the remote possibility of a rattlesnake out for a winter’s stroll? These were fearful thoughts that were better acknowledged and then left behind. The proper fears kept me safe during my hike while letting go of the others freed my mind and heart to embrace the wild beauty of God’s majesty.
One last last observation about my recent wrestling match with fear. I felt most of it in the first two days when the canyon was unknown and perplexing to me. As we spent more time in it and our guide explained the hidden life everywhere around us, my fear gave way to wonder, awe, and love for the canyon. What was first seen as a monolithic, unforgiving maze of rock and desert revealed itself as a vibrant wonderland with so much to offer those who treat it with a healthy dose of respect and humility.
The same principles are at work in our readings in terms of how we relate with God and the world around us. Each of the scriptures deals with different expressions of fear. In the passage from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people of the Lord’s promise to raise up a prophet to serve as a mediator between the people and God. The people of Israel had asked for this arrangement after experiencing God’s majesty on Mount Horeb. God’s greatness was so terrifying that the people told Moses, “we are too afraid. Talk to God for us and we will do whatever he says.” God doesn’t want his children to live in fear so he agrees. God also knows that as his people come to know him better through the Law and the prophets, their fear will give way to love.
In the second reading, St. Paul says he would like us to be "free of anxiety." He is giving advice for single people considering marriage, but his wish applies to all Christians. Stop looking ahead and getting anxious about tomorrow, about what may or may not happen. Simply be present to God and each other as you are today.
In the Gospel, Jesus encounters a man with an unclean spirit which cries out in fear when Jesus speaks. Even demons recognize the authority of Jesus. But they see his power as something to be feared rather than a gift that brings salvation. They are afraid because they realize Jesus has power over them and they will be defeated. Like cowards and sore losers, they make a great commotion until Jesus tells them to be quiet and leave the man, which happens immediately since Jesus’ authority and power is real.
Recall the question the evil spirits ask Jesus. “Have you come to destroy us?” Evidently the unclean spirit had taken over most of the man's personality. These demons were so arrogant as to think if they were cast out, the man would be destroyed. But when the unclean spirits left him he was whole again. What first looked like destruction turned out to be liberation. The healing of God and the repentance he calls us to embrace might seem painful at first but it will always lead to healing, peace, and wholeness.
All of this begs the question for us as followers of Christ: what role does fear have in our lives? Are we aware of the ways unhealthy fear and anxiety dominates our thinking and influences our decision-making? Have we brought our fear to the Lord to be redeemed and healed or do we fight it on our own? Just as important, do we have a healthy fear of offending God through sin? Do we allow holy fear to bring us to greater love of God and other people? Or do we nurture a spirit of pride, walking into situations that could damage our body and soul?
On the other hand, maybe we’ve become too cautious in our relationship with God. Perhaps we have become so afraid of him that he is unknown to us, he is nothing more than a divine entity: distant, mysterious, fearful, full of wrath. If we do not know God and learn about his love for us and for the world, he can appear as the Grand Canyon first did to me; impressive, maybe even beautiful, but ultimately harsh, deadly, and dry. The more we come to know God, the more we come to love him. There should always be a healthy fear of the fact that he is God and we are not. But that fear should grow into reverence and love, not dread and defiance.
One of the most comforting things about our faith is the knowledge that evil and death have already been defeated by the passion and death of Christ. In the midst of fearful and terrifying situations, we find supernatural power and authority by praying in the name of Jesus, first for ourselves and then for others. By praying in His Son’s name, God can use any of us to bring liberation to those paralyzed by fear. At Mass today, we ask Jesus to protect us from anxiety - especially the fear that so easily turns into despair. And we give him permission to use our lives and words to help set others free so the world can be a holier and more peaceful place.
