Be Not Afraid
In the homily at the Eucharistic Celebration culminating World Youth Day 2000, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II said:
If we are here today, it is because we identify with the Apostle Peter’s reply: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).
Around you, you hear all kinds of words. But only Christ speaks words that stand the test of time and remain for all eternity. The time of life that you are living calls for decisive choices on your part: decisions about the direction of your studies, about work, about your role in society and in the Church. It is important to realize that among the many questions surfacing in your minds, the decisive ones are not about “what”. The basic question is “who”: “who” am I to go to, “who” am I to follow, “to whom” should I entrust my life?
You are thinking about love and the choices it entails, and I imagine that you agree: what is really important in life is the choice of the person who will share it with you. But be careful! Every human person has inevitable limits: even in the most successful of marriages there is always a certain amount of disappointment. So then, dear friends, does not this confirm what we heard the Apostle Peter say? Every human being finds himself sooner or later saying what he said: “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”. Only Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and of Mary, the eternal Word of the Father born two thousand years ago at Bethlehem in Judaea, is capable of satisfying the deepest aspirations of the human heart.
In Peter’s question: “To whom shall we go?” the answer regarding the path to follow is already given. It is the path that leads to Christ. And it is possible to meet the divine Master personally: he is in fact truly present on the altar in the reality of his Body and Blood. In the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we can enter into contact with the person of Jesus in a way that is mysterious but real, drinking at the inexhaustible fountain that is his life as the Risen Lord.
Although these words are addressed to the youth of our world, they are words that we, too, need to hear. For all our longing, for all our desire, in the next world and in this world is to be found in Jesus.
Perhaps we have spent time this past year reflecting on our own lives, on the decisions we have made and need to make – if we haven’t made the time, you have my deepest encouragement to do so. With the sins and mistakes of the past, we may find a certain amount of fear in the decisions for the future. “Be not afraid!” were the words of our Lord to His disciples. “Be not afraid!” were the words of John Paul II in his first address as Pope. And if I may be so bold to place myself but for a moment with Christ, I say to you, my friends, BE NOT AFRAID!
Be not afraid to turn, to repent — for repentance is but turning from sin and the Culture of Death to Christ and the Gospel of Life. It is to Jesus Christ that we turn in prayer and in Mystery. Do we not receive Him in the Holy Eucharist? It is true that He “dwelt among us” but is also true that He dwells among us! Now!
Be not afraid to forgive. In a society where compensation is so much sought after for wrong that is done, healing is often left wanting because we have forgotten to look for reconciliation and healing. Compensation alone leads to a slavery of spirit. Only forgiveness will set us free so that healing may come. We have already been forgiven much by our Lord. We, in turn, must do the same. Do we not request this in the Lord’s Prayer? Turn to Christ again, my friends, and seek His power to forgive when we find it difficult
Be not afraid to love. Our Lord has given Himself fully to us in His life, death and resurrection. And our communion with Him is a participation in the redemption He has wrought. This is love – the complete and unselfish giving of my entire self to another without seeking a return. Can we “see” this act of love in the awesome gift of His precious Body and Blood? Perhaps not with our eyes, but with our heart…
The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council wrote that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. It from Jesus that we receive the ability to love at all. My friends, be not afraid to love deeply your spouses, your children, your in-laws, your friends and neighbours. We have received power to do so from Him who loved us first.
Having our fears put aside, we, like the youth mentioned above, will be refreshed and renewed in our faith. And then we can get on with our business – that of bringing the Gospel to the ends of the world!
