HOMILY -REV. JAMES L. NADEAU - 32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME-11/7/2021
November3,2021
The word “fear” is mentioned in scripture so many times that you would think it was another name for being human. Think of all the types of fear: fear of one’s death, the death of a loved one, fear of violence, fear of losing a job, fear of illness, fear of making a fool of oneself, fear of losing God’s love, and finally, the most difficult fear to overcome - free-floating anxiety without a known cause. You can easily add to my list.
In the first reading, we have the widow crushed by poverty and then by a drought. She was about to prepare her last meal for her son and then they would die. But the prophet Elijah came and told her, “Do not be afraid.” He told her to trust in God. She did, and she finds that all her needs are met.
She knew as we hear in the Psalm, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.” She trusted, as did Simon Peter, who after fishing all night, lowered the nets and what a catch! The nets were at the breaking point!
This can also be our case. Like the widow, we need not fear. As Jesus said, “Consider the lilies of the field. They grow and do not toil, and you are more precious.”
Fine, Fr. Jim, but how do we get through?
Some steps: 1.) Admit the extent of your fear in prayer to God, crying out from the depths for courage. 2.) Renew your faith . . . 3.) Cry out to Christ to help you in your fear – picturing His hands going out to you. 4.) Instead of spending time analyzing your fears, spend it seeking times of peaceful prayer. 5.) Remember, we are never alone. God is ALWAYS with us.
Perhaps fear is part of our human landscape, but it need not be on the Christian landscape because even though an army encamp against us, we have nothing to fear.