Do Not Be Afraid

"Rise, and do not be afraid."

 Those were the word Jesus told Peter, James, and John when they witnessed Jesus transfigured before them and the voice of the Father saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."  When Jesus first brought Peter, James, and John to the mountain and Peter saw Moses and Elijah, Peter said, "It is good that we are here."  He was so excited and happy that he asked Jesus if He wanted him to build three tents so everyone can stay!  Then a big cloud covered them and the Father said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."  The disciples became scared and fell to the ground.  "But Jesus came and touched them, saying, 'Rise, and do not be afraid.' And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone."

When the disciples experienced the immensity of the Father's power they grew afraid and even fell down. They couldn't even look at Jesus.  They knew they were in the presence of God.  Like Elijah who shielded his face when he heard the voice of God in a still small space, the disciples looked away.  I wonder what they were experiencing.  Embarrassment?  Guilt?  Shame?  Unworthiness? Fear?  Anxiety? Maybe a combination of things.  What are some things that cause me to hide my face from God?

Whatever they may be, I know that when I am ready to look up, all I will see is Jesus ready to embrace me and welcome me.  Just like how He approached this disciples.  Our Lord will embrace us, comfort us, and encourage us, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid."  There will be many times during our journey of faith that will cause us to stumble and fall, trying to hide from God, to remove ourselves from the presence of God.  We will try to convince ourselves to become comfortable with the darkness and the enemy work on us.  But, it is at those times that we must allow Jesus to touch us and hear it when He says to us, "Rise, and do not be afraid."  There is nothing that we can do or say that can cause Our Lord to leave us and not embrace us - nothing.  All He wants to say to us is, "Don't be afraid.  I love you.  Trust in me.  You are not your sins.  You are my Father's beloved."

So, this Lent when we find ourselves falling short of the commitment we have made on Ash Wednesday or when we start to despair and feel unworthy of God's mercy, let our Lord touch us and let us ask the Father to give us the grace to hear the words Jesus wants to say to us, "Rise, and do not be afraid."

Father, teach me to trust You.  Give me the humility to come to You in my sinfulness and weakness. Teach me to prefer the light over the darkness and remind me time and again that You call me beloved. 
Transfiguration by Raphael

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