No Fear

12^th Sunday of Ordinary Time; Matthew 10:26-33

Do not fear

If there has been any constant in the history of humankind, it is fear. Early humans lived in constant fear of being eaten by fearsome animals. So they became farmers and lived in fear of not having a good crop. As societies grew, armies were formed and people lived in fear of being conquered by a larger, meaner army. Kings were raised to protect the people from armies, but then became oppressors themselves and made their people live in fear. People gathered in small communities to isolate themselves from kings, but eventually one person would demand obedience and fear returned. Even in family units, where so many presume safety is considered implicit, we know there can be debilitating fear.

Even religion has caused its own share of fear. Human sacrifices to angry gods were commonplace in ancient times. In one religion in the fertile crescent, it was expected that the first-born child, male or female, of every household, would be sacrificed to the fire god. But before you dismiss that as “non-Christian”, recall the emotional fear, or good ole “Catholic guilt” that has been passed down for generations. Not to mention Crusader armies, inquisitions, pogroms, conquests, and other fearsome things done in the name of Christianity.

And yet, in the Gospel, Jesus tells his followers and tell us all, do not be afraid. In the New Testament, that very phrase (or something close to it) is said over 40 times. Clearly, Jesus was trying to let everyone know that living in fear is not something God wants of God’s own people. The reason Jesus could say that is because he wanted us to know that we are known, in the deepest and most intimate sense, by God. “Every hair of your head has been counted. So do not be afraid of anything.” (Matt 10:30) God knows me right down to the hairs on my head. (I don’t mean to brag, but my barber says, that’s a lot of knowing.)

For me, one of the biggest fears is the fear of unknowing. What will happen tomorrow, next week, next year, and so on, can drive me to distraction if I let it. When I am uncertain about a situation I can very easily fear it. Hence the phrase, “knowledge is power.” If I know what is going to happen, I know I do not need to be afraid of it. God wants me to know, in my deepest core, that I am loved and that I am known. And if I know that God knows me that completely, I can depend on “a peace that passes all understanding,” (Phil 4:7) Because with that peace and understanding, I know that no matter what may befall me in my life, all will be well with God and my soul.

The medieval mystic, Julian of Norwich, is perhaps best known for her phase “all will be well.” The complete phrase is "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." Julian lived in England during the Black Plague, and God revealed to her that all will be well  It is important to understand that Julian’s vision was not referring to some distant time or place that will be well. Her message was that all will be well today, because we are known by God today. Julian wanted everyone to know that God’s love is here now, not in some far-off heaven. With that kind of knowledge, she was not afraid, and was telling me that I do not need to be afraid today.

Oh sure, there are innumerable nasty things going on in the world that should cause me fear; war, famine, poverty, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and so much more. But I choose not to live in fear. I know God loves me and knows me. Even if “all those who were my friends are watching for any misstep,” (Jer 20:11) I can carry on with a clear conscious and without fear, because I choose to follow the teachings of Jesus and to share those peaceful teachings with anyone who will listen.

Every Day.

© 2026 by Timothy J. Doppel

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