DO NOT BE AFRAID

There are many people in the world who are living in fear and suffering.

I remember when I met a migrant worker who became part of our HIV health program. She was still young, had a lovely smile and very friendly. She lived in a slum and depressing area, in a very small room and it was actually collapsing. She was trying to work even though she was weak. She earned a little bit of money for about 30-50 baht a day from peeling prawns. 

She lived alone. Her friends abandoned her. She was rejected even by her own family. We went to visit her every day. We supported he and assisted her to the hospital. We took care of her. 

When she was dying, she asked us to stay for a while with her. She was in great pain. She said that she was afraid to close her eyes. She was afraid to fall asleep. She was afraid that she might not wake up again. She was afraid to face death.

We comforted her. We encouraged her and told her “do not be afraid… and have courage.” She smiled to us, held our hands and closed her eyes. She died peacefully on that night.

She was just one of the thousands of migrants who are afraid in many ways. Like them, I have also my own fears - I am afraid to fail… I am afraid of death… I am afraid of losing someone I loved… I am afraid of being rejected. 

As humans, we all have many fears. We all have sufferings. We all have to embrace it. We all have to face it with courage.

This is the experience of the Zachariah and Elizabeth in our Gospel today. They were childless. In Jewish tradition, one should try to have many children as possible - "to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” It’s hard for us to understand what being childless meant in those days. It would be considered “cursed” by God. It must be a painful experience for them to take as a married couple. 

Zechariah and Elizabeth served the Lord faithfully. Yet, for some reasons, they had been denied with this blessing. I imagine they were confused. Perhaps they wondered what they did wrong. They felt somehow incomplete. They were afraid. They suffered.

God had given them a surprise! The angel Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid, Zachariah” and told him that his wife Elizabeth would bear you a son, John the Baptist, who was "filled with the holy spirit" and destined to be “the prophet to prepare the way of the Lord.” Later during the Annunciation, Mary also heard these reassuring words from the angel - "Do not be afraid". 

They are the same words that addressed to Jeremiah in our first reading today. He was very fearful to speak in behalf of the Lord. God assured him saying, “do not be afraid for I am with you always” so he went and followed God with courage. They are consoling words that give strength to the weak, give courage to the fearful, and give peace and joy to the suffering. 

As we prepare ourselves for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus tomorrow, we are invited to listen to these words again and again. Jesus said these words many times in the Bible. He is saying these words to us now, he is whispering it to our hearts -- Do not be afraid. 

Do not be afraid to extend a helping hand. Do not be afraid to reach out to those who are living in fear, to those who are suffering, to those who are dying. Many of them are rejected, abandoned and unloved. They are just here around us. There are right here in Ranong.

May our hearts become like Jesus’ heart, a fearless heart, an open heart.