DO NOT BE AFRAID
A sermon by the Rev. Dr. Marie Sheldon
Harundale Presbyterian Church
Text: “So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10: 31)
Scripture Passages: Genesis 21: 8-21 and Matthew 10: 24-39
Recently, I was chatting about teenagers with two dads who were parenting teens. We spoke about how different things were now than when we were growing up. One man remarked that teenagers today seemed to socialize in groups much more than they did when he was young. He reminisced about his own adolescence and what it was like to call and ask a girl out for a date. First, you’d have to garner up the courage to make the phone call, and then there was an in-the-pit-of-your stomach fear that she’d say “no.” Somehow, that adolescent fear of rejection never leaves us. Most of us carry it around until the day we die.
Both of our Scripture readings this morning have to do with being afraid of rejection. The first one from the Book of Genesis tells the story of a rivalry between two famous women in the Old Testament. You’ll remember that God promised 75-year-old Abraham that he’d be the father of a great nation even though at age 75 he and his wife Sarah had no children. Sarah had given her permission for Abraham to have a child with Hagar, her Egyptian slave woman. This might seem strange to us, but it was actually a common custom thousands of years ago when a man was allowed to have as many wives and concubines as he could afford. Hagar conceived, and Sarah became horribly jealous. Eventually, Sarah also conceived and had a son named Isaac – but her jealousy over Hagar and Hagar’s son Ishmael continued to flare. Sarah demanded that Abraham cast Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. Abraham felt badly about this rift, but God promised Abraham that great nations would come from both Isaac and Ishmael. Sadly, Abraham sent Hagar and her young child into the wilderness with nothing more than some bread and water. Needless to say, Hagar was devastated at this rejection. When the bread and water ran out, she placed her child under one of the bushes for shade. Then she wept out of despair and out of fear. God heard her and said, “…Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.” Water was supplied. The years passed. Hagar found a wife for her son and tradition holds that he became the father of the Arab nations.
In our New Testament lesson we hear those words again: “Do not be afraid.” This time it is Jesus Christ who says them to his disciples. The context is that Jesus is addressing his followers, telling them that the cost of following him is high. It will not be an easy road. History records that many of Jesus’ closest followers died violent deaths. His words are hard to hear: “Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” And yet Jesus implies “Do not be afraid of the rejection that’s connected to the cross.” In the Sermon on the Mount, we hear similar words: Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven…” Persecution, rejection, false criticism. Why shouldn’t we be afraid of these things? They’re painful and humiliating. Jesus tells us not to be afraid because the bottom line is “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
If we examine contemporary society, we will have no trouble associating fear with all kinds of rejection connected to the problems so many of us face. Sociologists tell us that the traditional family is disintegrating. One spouse rejects another. Kids reject family time in order to be with peers. Women are outliving men, facing the fears of widowhood and people’s discomfort with a woman who is no longer part of a couple.
The concept of a “lifer” job at a place like Westinghouse or the NSA or Enron or any major corporation is a myth for young people today. They almost expect to be laid off or downsized or re-structured or whatever corporate euphemism is current. And then there are the “early-outs” – middle-agers who may not be quite ready for retirement, but if they don’t take it early, they may not get it at all. And underlying all of that is the fear of being rejected – of the boss choosing someone else.
As we get older, there is the fear of illness. Some people have no children to take care of them – either because they weren’t blessed with children or because their children aren’t available to help. Nursing homes are filled with people who have no family to visit them. This is a form of rejection fueled by indifference – and it’s very real.
I’m sure each of you could add your own fears to this list – fears that cut away at the core of who you are. And yet those divine biblical words continue to coach us: “Do not be afraid.” How can we help it?
The answer is to remember that all the fears we have are grounded in that which is passing. God, through Jesus Christ has promised us that there is life beyond our fears of loss and rejection – and that in the big picture, God will be there to help us through our pain until we are re-united with God and with each other in the Kingdom of heaven.
Furthermore, many of our fears have no basis. We tend to paint bleaker visions of our future than what will ever happen in reality. The un-named author of a meditation book I own has this to say: “Our fears usually have nothing to do with the reality of the present moment – and everything to do with anticipation of the future. We have to remember that we live and breathe in the present, and need not torment ourselves by negatively anticipating what may occur in the days or years to come.” (A New Day: 365 Meditations for Personal and Spiritual Growth, p. 36) Out there in the wilderness, Hagar anticipated starvation and death for herself and for her son, but God intervened and a new nation was born. Hagar’s catastrophizing tendencies were for naught. The disciples feared what would happen to them when Jesus left – but the Spirit came and infused them with the energy and courage to birth the Christian Church.
We catastrophize, too. Since 9/11, CNN and other media certainly aid us in that arena. Several of my friends have told me they can only bear to listen to the news once a day – listening more often is too depressing. We imagine negative scenarios that will never happen – and even if they do, God will be with us as we walk through them. Loss, rejection, illness, death, terrorism – none of it lasts forever. Eventually, that promise of eternal life is there to spur us on – to energize our faith in Jesus Christ – who told us the road would be tough – who told us that the reward for hanging in there would be incredibly wonderful.
Let me end with this little story about fear. Young Johnny was afraid of the dark and refused to go find the mop on the back porch when his mother sent him to fetch it one evening.
“Haven’t I always told you there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark?” his mother asked. “Yes.” Johnny said, but still did not venture out the kitchen door. “Johnny,” his mother said, ‘you know that Jesus is always with you, so that you are never alone and have nothing to fear.” Johnny finally opened the back door a tiny crack, held out his hand and said, “Jesus, will you please reach out and hand me that mop?”
Johnny had the right concept – even if his expectations for immediate gratification were a bit high! When fears come over you, remember God’s words to Hagar. Remember Jesus’ words to his followers: “Do not be afraid.” May God give each of us courage, hope and faith to live our lives in peace and joyful anticipation.
Amen and thanks be to God.