FEAR: PART TWO

by Aubry Rose

Hello and welcome to Fear: part two.

No, this is not some dark, twisted nightmare coming to life. No, you’re not dreaming. And no, you do not need to hide yo kids and hide yo wives. I’m simply finishing the thought that I started in yesterday’s post.

The reading at (yesterday’s) daily mass continued to answer exactly to the idea of God’s love and its cure for our human weaknesses. There I was, sitting in a pew, peeking out the corner of my eyelids to make sure that no one noticed I was smiling like a dummy into my scarf at the absolute beauty that was filling my ears. I’m not joking. I actually had to hold back happy giggles in my faith epiphany moment.

I was in awe of the transformative power of love that God was speaking to in both the first reading and the gospel. He was gently reminding us that if we do not love our brothers and sisters, who were made in the image and likeness of God, then we cannot say that we love God. For if we truly loved God, then we would love those around us (John 4:19-5:4.)

Here’s where it gets good: The stark contrast in the two days worth of reading exemplified exactly what God is asking of us. When Saint John writes about gripping anxiety and the inability to surrender fully to God’s love, the disciples are shown fearing Jesus and misunderstanding his teachings (see yesterday’s post.) But when Saint John writes about loving your brother as you do God, then those listening to Jesus are shown as being attentive to his message and amazed by his presence (Luke 4:14-22.) Through loving their brother, they were literally loving God. 

Imagine what could happen in the world if we would simply love our brothers and sisters, be attentive to what they had to say, and be present in the moment of divine appointment? The world would be transformed, at least according to God’s love letter to us in the gospel. Imagine how different our world would be had no one stopped to love Jesus. His words and messages would have been completely ignored, unappreciated. His message of salvation would have fallen on deaf ears, and his earthly reign insignificant.

God is presenting us with a life-changing, essential piece of wisdom, yet at the same time it is so very simple. He is calling us to love. That’s not too difficult, is it? If I can “love” a shirt, or a recipe, or the smell of Hermes perfume, then I think I can love the person standing in front of me.

In fact, I’ll prove it to you. Meet me in NYC so I can give you a big fat hug.