There is an old proverb that goes something like this: Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things will be yours. It’s no accident that “fear less” is top of the list. It was high also on Jesus’ list of priorities. For all his reassurance about not fearing those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, that to our hair-numbering God our worth is much greater than sparrows – for all this our guts have this sinking feeling. It’s worse when we can’t even pinpoint the fear.

Men and women are afraid of a variety of things: that our families are falling apart, of losing our jobs, of not having enough. We fear being robbed or assaulted. We’re afraid of sickness, especially cancer. We are afraid of death, our own or that of a loved one.

When these are mentioned, something starts to happen in our “gut.” Concerns and memories start clicking in our experience. Trust and faith are the only response. Jeremiah (first reading) heard the critical voices outside, but he also listened to the One within him who calls to this day. As the lengthy June days just start to dwindle, we do well to hear what is said in the dark moments of life. It is only when we face our fear that we can “proclaim from the roof-tops.”

(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )