Faith and Fear

Walking by faith not fear during the pandemic

11/18/2020

Matthew 14:22-33 After the crowd had eaten their fill, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

Even though I was quarantined in the rectory for the past ten days, I nevertheless enjoyed opportunities for occasional pastoral ministry. One phone call from a Christ the King parishioners was especially memorable. She apologized for calling me instead of her pastor, Fr. Juan Guido. I chuckled under my breath, and assured her, “Don’t worry at all, there’s probably some I.C. parishioner who is calling Fr. Juan right now rather than talking to me.” I look at it like getting a second opinion from another doctor. The important thing is not which priest you talk to, but that you feel like you are talking with Jesus whoever the human priest might be.

Her concern was the Church’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, and more exactly, she worried it was a reaction driven by fear rather than by faith. She explained: “If we truly believe that Jesus has risen from the dead and conquered sin and suffering and death, then should we not put our faith in that and trust that all will be well?” Let me add that she was not at all angry or argumentative, but genuinely wondered where the line was between faith and fear. I assured her that her question was a very good one, and not at all easy to untangle.

Perhaps one way to look at it is to see that when we use our intelligence and common sense, we are not abandoning our faith. When we buckle our seatbelts, when we purchase health and life insurance, when we stop at red lights (most of us), when we see doctors and take medicine, that does not mean God will not take care of us. Rather, that is how we share in his care of the world. So, too, when we wear masks or stay socially distanced or wash our hands, that does not mean we fail to have faith and live in fear. Those, too, are ways we share in God’s providential care and concern for the world.

I also added that sometimes we must show heroic acts of faith and not be overcome by fear. For example, we must be courageous in standing up for the protection of unborn babies and overturning abortion. In such cases we must choose faith rather than fear, and act in defense of innocent human life. We should take time to read the lives of the holy martyrs, especially those mentioned in the bible, to see where is that thin red line between fear and faith. That thin red line, of course, is colored by the blood that the martyrs shed for Jesus. There may come a time when we have to lay down our lives for Jesus, but such occasions are exceptional, rare, and heroic. It takes profound prayer and deep discernment, therefore, to know if you are living by faith or by fear.

Today’s feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul highlights how Peter and Paul discerned between faith and fear. In the gospel from Mark 14, Peter boldly steps out of the boat and walks on water, even if only briefly. Peter shows us that sometimes we must courageously walk by faith, even in the face of opposition. Paul, on the other hand, shrewdly remains under house arrest for two years in Rome, from 60 to 62 A.D., where he evangelizes the Romans and writes his four great “Captivity Epistles,” Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. In other words, Paul’s living under house arrest was not cowardly; rather it was calculating and produced great fruit. It can be a very thin red line between faith and fear.

My friends, as we continue to navigate this pandemic please use your good common sense as well as your God-given gift of faith. Sometimes we may think we have to choose one or the other, like the wonderful lady from Christ the King. We may feel like we live by fear not faith if we wear masks or wash hands or bump elbows. But we are not at all being cowardly, but rather calculating and sharing in God’s caring for creation and for one another. And if you have any questions about this homily, please call Fr. Juan Guido at Christ the King.

Praised be Jesus Christ!