Friday of Late
Advent
December 18, 2015 8:30am
In Matthew’s gospel, there is a
significant similarity between the beginning and the end.
Today, in chapter 1, there is
both fear and Emmanuel, God’s presence.
The angel says to Joseph, “Do not be afraid to take Mary into your
home.”
And a few verses later, Matthew says
that the child will be called “Emmanuel,
which means `God is with us.’”
In the very last chapter, chapter
28 of Matthew’s gospel, another angel says to the women at the tomb, “Do not be afraid.”
And then Jesus says to the women,
“Do not be afraid.”
And then the very last verse of
the gospel is Jesus saying, “I am with
you always.”
In other words, he will continue
to be “Emmanuel, which means `God is with
us.’”
So, Matthew bookends his gospel with
our fear and God’s presence.
He must have realized that human
fear can be a big factor.
It can lead us to do wrong things
and keep us from doing good things.
For example, fear of what others
will think of us can lead us to go along with negative conversation about an
individual or to refrain from speaking up positively on certain issues.
In that instance, fear can keep
us from doing good things.
Or, fear of our financial security
can lead us to be unethical in business or to cheat on our taxes.
In this instance, fear can lead
us to do wrong things.
And, by the way, fear can also
operate in these ways on a social level, on the level of an entire society.
We may do well to reflect on that
in our country right now.
In the face of fear, the gospel
simply reminds us of “Emmanuel, `God is
with us.’”
Jesus, God is with us to steady,
strengthen, comfort, guide and provide for us today and always.
That is the reassuring and
consoling message that Saint Matthew sees as paramount in his gospel.
“Emmanuel, `God is with us.’”
