Be Strong, Fear Not, for Your God Comes to Save You

09-05-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp

The passage of today’s first reading from the Prophet Isaiah may have been written during the Babylonian exile. There were very difficult moments in the life and history of Israel when they seem to have lost all hope of returning back to Jerusalem. It was in the midst of this hopeless situation that the prophecy of Isaiah comes to console and encourage the people, “Thus, says the Lord, say to those whose hearts are frightened or the fearful heart, be strong, fear not. Here comes your God, He comes with vindication He comes to save you.” God not only offers those words of hope and courage, but He assures them that He comes to save them. He goes further to prophecy to them that “the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared and the lame leap like a stag and the tongue of the mute will sing.”

The word of Isaiah in the first reading resonates with the miracle Jesus performed in today’s Gospel of the healing of a deaf man who had a speech impediment. The miracle manifests God’s promises would always come to fulfillment in our lives. God is a God whose words are effective and that was what the action of Jesus demonstrated in the healing when He said be opened and the ears of the deaf opened immediately. The words of Isaiah equally recalls Jesus’ manifesto we read in Luke 4:18-19 when He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and He was given the scroll to read and He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim, release the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at the liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

These words of hope, encouragement and faith spoken through the Prophet Isaiah are the same words that would be appreciated if we take it to heart and carry it home as you listen or read it today. Dear brothers and sisters don’t be afraid, be strong and believe that God knows every single situation you are in now and will come to save you. Why does He tell us to be strong and not fear? Because fear is the worst enemy to our faith in God. When we are frightened we become nervous and in that state of mind we lose confidence in ourselves and God. But when we are strong we become more open to see the hand of God in our lives without panicking. When we are strong we are more open to see the miracle of God happen, than when we are frightened.

Fear takes away our trust in God and drains away the needed energy to move on with life. That’s why today’s message is very profound in our lives and in our society today where there is fear and uncertainness everywhere. No matter what we go through now, we are being told to be strong and fear not for Our God is coming to save us. These acts of God coming to save us as Isaiah prophesied is manifested in God’s willingness to heal us. He performs this healing to demonstrate His power to heal us and liberate us from the evil that blocks us from hearing the mighty words of God that sets us free. It is equally evidence of His power and authority over sickness and health as well as His power over the forces of nature and evil forces.

My dear friends let us believe that God comes to save us from every negative force that affects our lives, our marriages, our families, our children and our jobs. Let us believe that Jesus is still working His miracles every day in our midst. Let us be people of hope in the power of God and trust in His Healing power.

Happy Sunday to all of you and may God’s blessing be upon you and your families.

Fr. Tony Okolo

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