-
There was an interesting article in the USA Today recently that talked about society's current obsession with fear. It seems, since September 11 or maybe because of it, we have grown increasingly more anxious about such threats as terrorism attacks, health pandemics, and environmental disasters (like the recent oil spill). The author of a new book Be Very Afraid makes the argument that "our method of coping is to make an idol out of any activity, agency or technology that will promise us security." Robert Wuthnow wrote the book and is a sociologist. Columnist Henry Brinton notes that "we worship the god of security." It has become a false idol for us because of the feeling of constant threats. Brinton says, "One of the goals of religious faith is to fashion a life that is not consumed by fear of death. This can be done by looking for eternal value in each day on earth, eternal salvation in heaven, or some combination of the two. But these approaches are difficult to sustain in our advanced liberal society." It reminds of the stories in the Old Testament that I have been reading lately as part of a Bible study group. The message in the Pentateuch is that the people of Israel failed to trust God. Over and over again, God tests his people to determine if they have learned to place their trust in their Father yet they disappoint Him numerous times. When Moses and Aaron lead Israel out of Egypt into the desert, they begin to grumble that they are thirsty. God provides Israel with water and admonishes them saying, "If you really listen to the voice of the Lord, your God, he told them, and do what is right in His eyes: if you heed His commandments and keep all His precepts, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases with which I afflicted the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer." (Exodus 15:26). God proves his reliance innumerable times but the people still doubt. We are perpetuating the same circle of doubt when we fear the world. Our faith in the Lord should overwhelm any fear we have about worldly threats. Does that mean that we should not be careful or smart? Of course not but we should not fear what we cannot control. The Lord is our protector in all matters. Can we not learn from our history? Are we going to make the same mistakes that they did? As Christians we are called to be difference makers in the world. We are called to lead all people to Jesus Christ. Are we going to let our fear conquer us? I challenge you to assume the mantel of Moses and lead God's people to his word and salvation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
Kurt Hilgefort, is a Catholic father of six who publishes his thoughts on his blog Shadows of Augustine . He responded to my seven question survey with the following answers. Kurt is the first layperson to respond to the seven question survey and I think that his experience is extremely relevant to me personally and I hope that you are inspired by his thoughts as well. If you would like to respond, please send an email to fellmananthony@gmail.com with your thoughts and I will be happy to publish them as well. 1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far? The biggest challenge for me has been the whole dying to self thing. On an intellectual level, there are no barriers. It comes down to a matter of accepting the authority of the Church that Christ founded upon Peter. My challenge is not in the intellect, but rather in the will. The challenge for me has always been to continually seek conversion. I want to be transformed, but I want it to be over all ...
Read more

Finding St Anthony Among the Lost Items

-
Image
Saint Anthony of Padua, though often associated with finding lost articles, was primarily known in his lifetime as a powerful and eloquent preacher. Originally a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, he was inspired to join the newly formed Franciscan order after witnessing the martyrdom of the first Franciscan missionaries in Morocco. His conversion to the mendicant life under St. Francis of Assisi transformed him, deepening his commitment to poverty, humility, and evangelical preaching. Gifted with profound theological knowledge and a captivating speaking style, he traveled across Italy and France, drawing immense crowds with his clear and passionate sermons, converting many and combating heresy with his unwavering faith and intellectual rigor. Beyond his public ministry, St. Anthony was a mystic who enjoyed profound spiritual experiences, most notably a vision of the Infant Jesus. This intimate connection with the Christ Child is a hallmark of his iconography, often depicting him c...
Read more

Jesus Came to End Death and to Build a Church

-
Image
The twelve apostles chosen by Jesus formed the bedrock of the early Church , and their Catholic identity is deeply rooted in their direct relationship with Christ and the mission He entrusted to them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights this foundational role, stating that Jesus "instituted the Twelve as 'the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy'" ( CCC 860 ). These men were not simply followers; they were handpicked by Jesus, lived intimately with Him, witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand, and were specifically commissioned to preach the Gospel to all nations ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Their unique position as eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and their reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, established them as the authoritative leaders of the nascent Church, a reality echoed in the writings of early Church Fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, who emphasized the apostles' authority as repre...
Read more