When Fears are Vanquished (April 7)

Readings, John 20:19-31 and Acts 4:32-35
Image, Christ Appearing to the Apostles, Rembrandt (1656)

It is incredible what is possible when fears are vanquished. From huddled in a locked room, to holding all things in common. Behold, the power of encountering the resurrected Christ!
 
Jesus appears to his fearful and static disciples, and offers them peace. A picture of pastoral tenderness, Jesus shows them his wounds, assures them of his presence, breathes on them his Spirit, and entrusts to them the ministry of forgiveness. And then, when after a week they still haven’t moved (having perhaps been swayed by Thomas’ concerns), Jesus appears again, offers them his peace and presents his wounds. And second time’s a charm: by Acts 4 the community of Christ is no longer huddling in locked rooms. They live together with open hearts and hands, giving testimony with great power, and ensuring there was not a needy person among them. It is incredible, what is possible when fears are vanquished.
 
You may have heard before that the most repeated command in Scripture is fear not. Closely accompanying this is the promise of the peace of God which carries us over tumult. Because what part of Christianity is possible if we are locked in a room of our own fear?
 
How can we be hospitable when the doors to our homes are locked in fear? How can we love one another as Christ has loved us, when fear has locked the doors to our hearts? How can we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, share our possessions, offer forgiveness, or proclaim good news if our hands and tongue are gripped by fear?
 
None of this is to imply that worry, anxiety, or fear is sinful and shameful. Jesus appears to his disciples not with judgment or condemnation, but peace, assurance, and purpose. This encounter transforms their fear into conviction. We shall know fear, caution, worry, but we must also recognise that if we do too little to check it, fear will motivate and consume us, and risk closing ourselves off to the path on which Christ is leading us.
 
This is why that picture of flourishing in Acts emphasises the communal nature of the Christian life. Because there are many things that cause fear which can be addressed in our life together. The fear of where the next meal is coming from, or whether the rent can be paid, the fear of loneliness and isolation, of derision and dismissal, of change and confusion are fears that persist to this day, and each of them can stifle our ability to live lives of love, generosity, justice, and grace. And yet, as a community – open and accountable to one another, with eyes fixed upon the presence and promise of Christ – we can help each other to assuage fears through emotional, spiritual, and material support. With the Spirit’s power, we can help each other to be less fearful by helping one another have less reasons to fear.
 
Because while the command, fear not, or the blessing, peace be with you, can sometimes be reached through an attitude change – more often than not, material circumstances will need to change first. As James wrote so succinctly, If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?  
 
This is why the disciples devoted themselves to holding all things in common so there was not a needy person among them. They wanted to help people fear not, and know the peace and good news of Christ. Because it is incredible what is possible when fears are vanquished. 
 
As we follow on from easter, emboldened by encountering the resurrected Christ, let us pause and consider what fears grip our hearts. Let us enquire after and listen to the fears of others. What worries curtail our ability to love and forgive, offer hospitality and pursue justice, pray and praise, share possessions and good news? As a community of Christ, can we assuage each other’s fears through means spiritual and material? How can we pray, what can we provide, where can we be present so that we might have less reasons to fear, and more capacity to live the open, generous, and loving lives Christians are called to live.
 
Christ appears to his disciples, then as now, with a pastoral tenderness to bring outward looking, purposeful conviction where there was inward focused static fear. And to sustain this transformation, Christ gifts to the Christian the Holy Spirit and the Church. No one leaves the locked rooms of fear alone. But with Christ, the Spirit, and the Church, it is incredible what is possible when fears are vanquished.