be not afraid

Dear God, please reveal to us

your sublime

beauty

that is everywhere, everywhere, everywhere

so that we will never again

feel frightened

my divine love, my love

please let us touch

your face

St. Francis of Assisi

________________________________________

The angels came

They came to Zechariah

and he was afraid

struck dumb with the enormity of the visit

they came to Mary

and she was afraid

although the moment was pregnant with promise

they came to Joseph

and he was afraid

and perhaps puzzled, and even a little humiliated

this was deep stuff

and did God think he, Joseph was a fool?

they came to shepherds

who must have decided that the last batch of wine

had gone a little bad

and who must had looked incredulously at each other

as the skies shone

“Whoa!  Look at that, dude!”

The angels came

and there was fear

but also hope

be not afraid

be not afraid

be not afraid

for you have God all wrong

all wrong

you can be in awe

you can and should be overwhelmed

you should feel the power and presence

and be driven go beyond who and what you are

propelled into a world new

a life new

a heart new

a mind new

but be not afraid

for this God is love

and if you don’t believe it

soon God will prove it

God will come

not growling and threatening

not in power on the clouds

but crying and

reaching for his mother’s breast

a little gift of love

the sacred wrapped up in ragged cloths

and soon, needing to be changed

and you can touch

God’s face