Our deepest fear

Readings for Monday October 5, 2009

First Reading: Jonah 1:1-2:2,11
Responsorial Psalm: Jonah 2:3,4,5,8
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37


This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish, away from the LORD. The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea, and in the furious tempest that arose the ship was on the point of breaking up. (Jon 1:1-4)

In today's first reading we see the prophet Jonah doing literally what many of us have done in the spiritual sense before ... running from God. Jonah receives this great calling from God, but wants nothing to do with it, so he thinks that if he just boards the ship that he can outrun God and escape his calling. Jonah believed that he could run and hide from God, but the truth is that you can run, but you can never hide from God. Jonah did not want to own up to his calling, he did not want to take on the great task that the Lord had set before him. But little did Jonah know, that God is very hard to ignore.

There is a saying by Marianne Williamson that goes; "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." I don't know if this was the case for Jonah, but I do now that it is the case for many of us today. Most of us are afraid of the calling that God gives to each of us, many of us are afraid to accept our true purpose because there is a fear that we will be successful. Taking risks is never an easy thing to do, it requires us to step out of our comfort zone a great deal and to trust totally on the Lord. However, when we put all of our faith and trust in Him, then we are guaranteed to have success; success in reaching an eternity in heaven, our true purpose.

As we know, following God is not always easy, and many times we are called to do things that may require a lot of sacrifice or some discomfort; but it will all be worth it in the end to stand before our maker and hear the words, "well done, good and faithful servant."

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, you alone are good and know what it right for each of us. Lord, you designed each of us with love and with a purpose. Help us to open ourselves to you and to see our purpose, and to do your will in this life. Lord, we thank you for your abundant love and mercy, may we go out in this world and be merciful to all those we come in contact with. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.