Do Not Be Afraid

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11 

One of the most common phrases uttered by Jesus is "do not be afraid." Over and over again, he tells us to not be fearful, and yet the human condition is regularly one of fear. We are afraid of failure, unknown enemies and the real lived threat of disease. Coming out of the pandemic, people are afraid of other people. And in my own life, after months and months of limited capacity, I fear my very own capacity. Yet it is God, speaking to me and you today, because the Creator is with us, even when we fear. We are not handling our fears alone. God is with us, Emmanuel.

Holy Creator who love all creation

you hovered over us in the beginning

you stay with us in the darkest nights

and you will be with us in all our fears.

When we are afraid we feel very alone

we think we have been abandoned by you

we shake, believing we are on our own 

yet you whisper, "do not be afraid, I am here."

Help us to see our fear as your invitation

let us lean into our prayers and our service

trusting that you are with us as we cast our nets

and you are with us on all our rough seas. Amen.