psalm 27: nothing wrong to be afraid. 1st week advent friday

Today we reflect once more in our responsorial psalm, specifically psalm 27.  David who wrote this psalm was afraid.  If he was at war with other nations he was afraid of their enemies encamped against him.  If he was not at war he was afraid of his own people and even of his own family who tried at least once to grab power from him. This is David's psalm - The LORD is my light and my salvation;  whom should I fear?  The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?

Even when we were very young boys we were assured many times by adults that there was nothing to be afraid of. But in reality there are so many things to be afraid of.  Just in front of our seminary 5 nights ago there was murder and the young man died on the spot stabbed 5 times.  I was talking to three former seminarians, last alumni, they were my students before.  They are married but only one remained so.  The other two have separated and one of them is fighting for his child.  There are so many things to be afraid of, not just now but even in the future – will you finish college here, will you finish it anywhere at all, will you fail, will you pass, will you persevere, how are you to face your parents or your benefactors, can you persevere in the priesthood that is if you can even become one?  There are earthquakes, accidents, criminality . . . so many fears – what are your fears?

It is ok to be afraid, there is nothing wrong in being afraid.  In fact many times being afraid can help us for as long as it does not paralyze us into taking action.  We all have to learn to endure awful things for a while in this broken world.  However what makes us face our fears as Christians is that fact that we know that these things will not last forever.  That this is only for a time.  Our faith in God must continue to live in the midst of our fears - to keep that faith strong as it lives in the many fears that stalk us, to allow Jesus to ask you as he did the blind man in our gospel today “Do you believe that I can do this?” You yourself have to answer that everyday as you face life's many fears.