Daily Meditation - Saturday 12July 2008 - WHEN GOD SPEAKS, OUR NATURAL REACTION IS FEAR

[BarbaraTherese]

Mass Readings & Meditation
Readings

Meditation

Matthew 10:24-33

Do not be afraid. (Matthew 10:26)
Sometimes when God speaks, our natural reaction is fear.

• We don’t understand or can’t grasp what he’s saying.
• Or maybe we understand just enough to see potential difficulties or dread possible consequences.
• Sometimes so much seems unknown that reason fails and emotion takes over—fear.

In fact, for many of us, fear is how we deal with God.

• We are afraid he won’t speak to us,
• afraid when he does,
• and afraid to be wrong about it.
• We are afraid to do what we think he is asking of us,
• afraid not to,
• and afraid of what people will think if we do.
  **If this describes you, **
  **then **
  you are in good company!
• Consider Mary (Luke 1:30),
• Joseph (Matthew 1:20; 2:22),
• and the shepherds (Luke 2:10).
• Think about Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:5-7),
• and the other disciples (John 14:27).

That’s a pretty impressive group of people!

Some fear, of course, is a gift of the Holy Spirit,

• like the awe and reverence we experience when we see the holiness and majesty of the Trinity.
• But most of the time,
• our fear is the ordinary anxiety we feel
• when we are faced with the unknown or unfamiliar.
  Jesus knows that. He knows our hearts, and he still loves us!
• And so, repeating it three times,
• he tells the twelve:
• Do not be afraid!
• You are beloved and infinitely precious to the Father.
• Not a sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge, and you are worth far more than sparrows.
• Every hair on your head is numbered (Matthew 10:26-31).

If you are afraid when he speaks,
he wants to reassure and encourage,
not chastise, you.

• God loves you with overflowing love
• unstained by self-interest and undiminished by your imperfections.
• Yes, sometimes his words cause fear.
• But that’s when to run toward him, not away.
• Crawl into his lap and tell him about it.
• Let his love wash over you.
• Ask him to drive fear away and assure you that all is well.
  “Father, I want to fulfill your plan for me, but sometimes I’m afraid. Fill me with your love today. Let it wash away every hesitation and concern that holds me back from responding wholeheartedly to you.”