Fear Not

I still remember the day when the oldest of our three kids was born. Unfortunately something still hurts in me when I think about it,unlike the birth of our other two kids. I think it is because it was the first time in my life I was scared for the life of a loved one. I remember how a room with a doctor and nurse attending my wife in labor along with myself and a relative - a room filled with happiness and anticipation of a new life - turned into a room filled doctors and nurses with intense faces, in a matter of minutes. Like many of us, I too never liked to think about death, especially of myself or one of my loved ones. Death was something that happened elsewhere - to people I didn't care much about and in places I didn't know about. Then in an instant, in that hospital room, I became aware of the ultimate danger. My daughter is now nine years old and my wife is, let's just say, nine years older - in short, everything turned out to be okay that day. But I still shudder when I think about that day.


As we approach the end of the liturgical year in the Latin order, the scripture readings focusses on the end of time. And this morning the priest, during his homily, also shared my feeling about the readings that we have been listening to for the last several days. He said and I agree that it isn't easy to read the Book of Revelations, the last book of the Bible. The violence is so vivid and the language is so gruesome, it is hard to believe that it was written by the same St. John who also wrote "God is love". When I read the Revelations, though I accepted the message wholeheartedly, I also wondered if it was appropriate for the book to included in the Bible. But I think that doubt was raised by the side of me that is afraid of 'the end'. 

Let's face it, there is going to be an end. There is no denying it. Whether the world going to end first or I am going to die first is all that need to be seen. One way or another, we all are going to see an end. It is easier for us to imagine us dying, though it might be harder for us to accept it. We have seen too many deaths, and it is an inevitable reality for all who are born. the Book of Revelation deals with apocalypse - end of the world. Now that is not only hard to accept, but even harder to imagine. It is hard to tell if St. John wrote the Book based on visions or as a means to inspire the Christian community suffering horrific persecutions from Emperor Domitian. Regardless of its origin, the Book remains valid and meaningful for Christians of all time. It reminds us that regardless of the adversity and sacrifice Christians may endure, they will in the end triumph over evil because of their fidelity to Christ the victor.

We spend so much of our time worrying about the future. We worry because we know there is an uncertainty shrouding our plans for the future. In my mind I had everything planned out for my baby even before she/he (this we didn't know) was even born. Then for a brief moment there my dreams and my expectations came tumbling down, and I was scared. The Book of Revelations is in the Bible because, while talking about the future, this book is telling us to live in the present in order to be ready for the future. Stop being anxious about the future and quit regretting the past. Live as if the end is right now - live with a heart filled with repentance, but also live with a heart filled with joy. 

Those people who walk around preaching about the end of the world and trying to scare people into believing in Jesus, have it all wrong. As disciples of Christ, all Christians are called to trust in Jesus' promise, "Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Those who remain steadfast in their faith and confident in the risen Lord need have no fear.  The first words out of risen Christ was "Do not be afraid" (Matthew 28:10). He wants us to know that end - whether ours or of this world - is not something that should scare us. It is not the end of all. Apocalypse, thus the Book of Revelation, is not about a horrific future, rather it is a message of hope and consolation for those who dare to believe and trust in a God who overcame death. 

"See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying 'I am he' and 'The time has come'. Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky." (Luke 21:7-11)