FEAR NOT

The Christmas story – that is, the story of the birth of Jesus – is full of angels. Without fail, the angels greet the mortals, whether it be Zacheriah, Mary or the shepherds or whoever, with an admonition to not be afraid.

That disclaimer makes total sense. The appearance of an angel would be rather scary. In our modern times, if we perceived we were encountering an angel, we might be concerned we had gone crazy – and if you told anyone about it there are plenty who would, in fact, think you’d gone Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

Yet, it seems to me that in 2025 it would be wonderful if some authority could appear and give us the directive and assurance to not be so afraid. We live in a world permeated by fear. The social media algorithms thrive on it. Twenty-four-hour news pounds the point home.

Climate change

Inflation

AI displacing humans

Unemployment

Threats to democracy

Endangered civil liberties

Vaccines causing harms

The harms of not being vaccinated

Terrorism

Too many guns

Taking away guns

Disease

Failing schools

And on and on and on

So much is flung at us often with hyperbolic descriptions, like something being an “existential threat.” (I am not even sure what that is.)

The world is full of concerns and problems, many of them large ones. However, that doesn’t mean we must live in fear. In fact, that fear often paralyzes us and impairs our capacity to confront the challenges lying before us.

Fear compels us to look inward. It is toxic for our souls.

We are hardwired to live with hope.

Christmas is the season of hope.

Fear not!