Do not be Afraid; Go and Tell The World that Jesus is Alive.

Monday 22^nd April 2019. Read Acts 2:14-33, Psalm 16 and Matthew 28:8-15

_*“And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’” (Matthew 28:9-10)*_  

When Jesus appeared to the women, the first thing he said was: “Do not be afraid…” The simple truth is that we cannot preach Christ by word and example unless we grow above our fears. So long as fear lingers in our hearts, we cannot convince the world of our faith.

Fear pulls us down. Fear is that second voice that makes a mockery of our Faith. Fear is responsible for our double-mindedness at times when it comes to the things of God. Fear prevents us from speaking the truth thereby making us tools in the hands of the evil ones.

The soldiers who witnessed the resurrection went to the chief priests to report what had happened but rather than spreading the message to the whole world, they were silenced with money. Just as Judas betrayed Jesus because of money, the soldiers who guarded the tomb, the first witnesses preferred money to speaking the truth.

The soldiers could not spread the truth because of money. Could it also be the case that our love for money acts as an obstacle in preventing us from spreading the message of Christ? Could it be the case that I am not able to tell the world about Jesus because I am too afraid of losing money?

In our first reading, we saw how Peter got up to give an address on the day of Pentecost, this was the same Peter who was too afraid to own up before a little maid that he was one of Jesus’s disciples, the same Peter who denied ever knowing Christ. Fear is truly a weapon satan uses against us.

Dear friends, let nothing stop you. Jesus is no longer in the tomb, He has triumphed over death. Let nothing frighten you, not even a death threat should prevent you from speaking boldly about Christ. Go and tell the world that Jesus is Risen.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to face my fears especially those preventing me from serving you wholeheartedly. Amen.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of Easter Octave. Bible Study: Acts 2:14-33, Psalm 16 and Matthew 28:8-15).*

Fr. Abu.