Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! But Isaiah, there is so much to be frightened about. We’re frightened of the virus — not just the havoc it is creating in peoples’ health but also the way it has divided society. That’s not even to mention the fact that we are frightened about keeping healthy in general as age starts to stake its claim on us. We’re frightened that we are ruining our planet with global warming — and that politicians don’t exercise the leadership necessary to deal with this problem. We’re frightened that the heritage of racism in this country seems to fester like a gangrenous wound. We’re frightened the economic disparity means that too many people are one pay check away for poverty. We’re frightened because the scourge of violent crime can threaten us almost any time in any place. Living when he did the prophet knew about the many things that can generate fear. But he also knows what alleviates fear. Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. We recognize the saving presence of God in the person Jesus. All of those frightening things our there don’t touch our basic reality — that we are the children of God, made in God’s image, beloved and precious. The frightening things are out there but we see in the life of Jesus how even Good Friday will become Easter Sunday. Fear doesn’t define us — God’s love promising life, life to the full does.
