Fear
Fear is one of the common words found in the bible- it appears numerous times in both the Old Testament and the New. This week, Jesus tells us again in Mathew 10: 26-33
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ……And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
In breaking the word, Fr. Ryan said that we fear many things- death, poor health, financial inadequacy, job security, future, the past, for our family and many more. The root of our fear is rejection and loss. We fear that we might be rejected and lose friendship when we speak the truth.
Pope John Paul II says that man by his very nature fears danger, affliction and suffering. Man will continue to fear unless he crosses that barrier of fear. Man can only cross that barrier if he has surpassed his own limits of “an unknown situation, the risk of being frowned upon, the risk of laying himself open to unpleasant consequences, insults, degradations, material losses, perhaps imprisonment or persecution.” Then, he can attain fortitude. To achieve such fortitude, he has to be connected to God (sustained by great love for truth and for good). General Audience, 15 November 1978.
Pope John Paul 11 experienced fear, danger and affliction in his own life. Known then as Karol Wojtyla, he lost his mother when he was 8 years old. Soon after that at the age of 12, his brother Edmund died of scarlet fever. When he was 19 the Nazi invaded his country and at the age of 20, he lost his dad and was without a family. He saw and felt persecution during the Nazi occupation.
What is fortitude?
Fortitude also known as courage is a cardinal virtue that can be cultivated by withstanding great difficulties and dangers for a just cause. It is a virtue to endure and carry on. The gift of fortitude as a gift of the Holy Spirit gives us perseverance to speak the truth and live our faith to death. We need fortitude as a virtue and gift to do what is right.
How to move beyond fear?
For Pope John Paul II, he endured many sufferings and Mother Mary was his strength – she totally trusted God.
We can cultivate fortitude by enduring in the face difficulties and pain. We can pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us persevere in our faith and to trust in God despite all pain, suffering and afflictions.