One day Zechariah ‘s group of priests were on duty and he was serving God as a priest. All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. But the angel told him: “Don’t be afraid Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John. His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad. Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.
Luke 1: 8, 11-15
Reflect on the word FEAR for a few moments.
“Don’t be afraid!”
Perhaps we freeze with fear when we hear the sounds of footsteps following us, or when we hear strange noises at night. Perhaps we freeze with fear at the sound of the phone ringing when waiting for disturbing news. Or at the sound or sight of violence
Fear is a personal experience. Differentiating between imagined or irrational fear and rational or paralyzing fear is not easy.
But faith can free us from fear as it did for Zechariah and Elizabeth to raise a child in their old age. Mary and Joseph to walk with their Son from Bethlehem to Calvary. Shepherds to run, without looking back. Three wise men to defy Herod.
Do we remain frozen with fear, or learn to fly with the freedom of faith?
Moving from fear to faith requires courage, commitment and continuing
belief in God’s promise to us. “Don’t be afraid!”
God of Unbroken Promise, may I know your presence in my life as Faith and not fear.
© Ranjini Wickramaratne-Rebera
For a number of years, our dear friend Ranjini Rebera wrote Biblical reflections for the use of Gungahlin Uniting Church and others, usually for Advent and Lent. We were privileged to receive these, as Ranjini had a working history of writing and teaching on a global stage. Each time she completed the considerable work on one of these studies for us she would announce firmly, ‘That’s it. That is the last one I’m writing. No more. End of story!’ But as Advent or Lent came around again she would start hinting that she’d had an idea for a reflection – and she would write another one.
When she completed a Reflection for Lent 2021, we were not to know that this really was the last one. Ranjini died on 13 October 2021. We miss her intellect, her leadership, her vivid personality, her artistic gifts, her deep faith and her pastoral heart. We have lost some colour from our world.
The Gungahlin Uniting Church Worship Team, where Ranjini served for several years, offers Ranjini’s study material, first produced in 2015, as we give thanks for her life shared among us.