"Fear not," said he, for mighty dread...

Fear can overwhelm us, divide, cut us off, prevent us from discovering the miracle which is taking place – from hearing the angels sing.

It's so easy to be consumed by fear. Yet all the way through the gospels, Jesus constantly tells us to have courage.

Reading

Luke 2.8-20

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Reflection

It’s so easy to be consumed by fear. We are living with huge uncertainties. We are rightly anxious about the planet, the cost of living, the NHS, care for the elderly … the list is endless.

Yet all the way through the Gospels, Jesus constantly calls us to have courage: “Do not be afraid.” Jesus does not offer us a path of condemnation, blame and curse. Rather, he invites us to embrace a blessing. This begins with the realisation of our own poverty, and the failure of pride, greed, covetousness or violence to bring happiness.

The homeless shepherds become the first witnesses of good news. Perhaps it is because they are clinging to less that they have the room to see salvation, and the humility to go to Bethlehem and rejoice in Christ’s presence.

I wonder...

What you fear most? How you overcome your fear? When you have been surprised by God’s grace?

Lord Jesus, deliver us from all fear and give us the humility we need to hear the angels and to echo their song of peace and goodwill to all. Amen.