"Do not be afraid."
This is the invitation of Jesus as he offered to the world the Good News of the Father's unwavering love. This is the same message that the late John Paul II has repeated during his papacy. I have always thought that this exhoration pertains only in genuinely trusting God and having confidence his trustworthy providence.
Only recently did I realize the nuance in John Paul II's message after reading the book of the late pope's private secretary Cardinal Satnislaw Dziwisz. What John Paul II is telling the world is not only "do not be afraid to trust the Lord," or "do not be afraid to depend on God," but more importantly "do not be afraid to let Jesus in your life."
It is quite easy to think that letting Jesus in one's life would mean don'ts, don'ts and don'ts; would mean prohibitions and restrictions. This could be the reason why many are afraid to let Jesus enter fully their lives. But John Paul II rightly proclaims the opposite: letting Jesus in one's life brings the fullness of authentic freedom.
Jesus sets us free from the chains of sin and death, from the domination of the self, from the frustration of consumerism and materialism, from the confusion of relativism, from the superficiality of physcial beauty, from the passing comfort of hedonistic desires, from the illusions of busyness, from the squalor of lies, from the isolation of independence. Letting Jesus in our lives is to be embraced by the freedom of being children of God.
"Do not be afraid." Do not be afraid to let Jesus in your life. Do not be afraid to go under the mantle of his commands, his parables, his healing power, his forgiveness, his compassion, his heart "moved with pity," his cross and resurrection.
Do not be afraid to let in Jesus in you life and you will not be afraid of anything!
