Wednesday after Epiphany
January 8, 2020
Today, in Mercy, we have a few references to fear — and to its perfect antidote, Love.
John continues to instruct us in prose that stuns us with its sacred clarity:
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.
In our Gospel, we meet some pretty fearful disciples. First of all, they are still spinning from the avalanche of loaves and fishes gushing forth from the perfect faith of Jesus.
Today, they are rowing a storm-tossed lake in the pitch of night. Enough to strike fear into even a crusty fisherman’s heart! But wait a minute! As if all these scary things are not enough, here comes a ghost across the threatening waves!
And how about Jesus in this passage? A little nonchalant, or what?
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them.
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out.
Jesus wasn’t worried about the waves.
Jesus, full of Love, and perfected in the Creator’s Presence, has no need or place for fear. He lives in the accomplished wholeness of God where, as Julian of Norwich says, “All manner of things shall be well.”
I never really thought much about fearfulness in my life. I exist in great security. But when I read this line from Paula D’Arcy, I saw that there are all kinds of unrecognized fears inhibiting us:
Who would I be,
and what power
would be expressed in my life,
if I were not dominated by fear?
Fears. What are some of yours that, like me, you may not have recognized:
- Fear of failure, loss, death, dependence.
- Fear of looking foolish, getting old, being sick, losing my comfort zone.
- Fear of meaninglessness, unusefulness, of being held responsible?
Could we go on and on?
But what about the biggest fear – of being unloved, and maybe even unlovable.
Dear God, as we pray today,
help us to grow into your amazing love for us.
Help us there to cast out our fears
and to live in your perfect freedom and joy.
Music: All Shall Be Well – Michelle Sherliza
Lavish Mercy 
“Perfect love drives out fear.” This statement by St. John doesn’t only apply to our relationship with God but also our relationship with our neighbour. If we love others as we love ourselves and love God as perfectly as we should, then we shouldn’t fear making sacrifices for them no matter what the cost.
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