Holy Saturday: To Push Against Fear

BY KRISTEN TRUDO | April 15, 2017
Holy Saturday
Today’s Readings

I stayed up on election night falling into something that felt like panic. Perhaps that’s what it was. In the months leading up to that moment in history, analysts frequently discussed the politics of fear as a phenomenon entering our national landscape in a way it hadn’t in quite some time; in particular, how a certain presidential candidate incited fear in numbers that hadn’t been seen in a decade; with polls reporting that United States Americans were worried about being victims of terrorism and crime, despite the fact that crime rates, for instance, had been steadily declining for decades.

Today’s Gospel abounds with moments of fear. It is something like a refrain, appearing every few lines. The guards at the tomb were shaken with fear at the appearance of Jesus. The angel told the women not to be afraid. They went away from the tomb fearful, yet overjoyed. And, finally, Jesus himself told them not be afraid (Mt 28:1-10). And while fear is a natural emotional reaction, this reading suggests that, perhaps, we have a choice to push against it. For the disciples, it was their faith that reminded them that they did not need to be afraid.

In a moment saturated with fear, I am curious about the power of pushing against it.

Deliberately. Forcefully.

In a similar way to what is suggested in today’s Gospel. But the question is whether or not, today, we might find something to believe in that could inspire us to push against fear.

Because, today, fear catalyzes more law enforcement in poorer neighborhoods; and thus more black and brown bodies being executed in the streets.

Fear means refugee bans that are written through a lens of bigotry; and the trauma or imminent deaths of those refugees who might have nowhere else to go.

Fear means a trans woman who is brutally murdered because this country refuses to protect her.

Anne Meadows via Flickr

So to push against fear requires that we do the work to dismantle the systems around us: the ones that require the exploitation of some in order to guarantee the security of others. It means building bridges where others are attempting to erect walls. Placing microphones at the margins, to amplify the voices of those who have been silenced. Having faith where others have given up.

Perhaps to follow Jesus is to push against fear. To reject the movements and decisions and refrains of fearmongers. To say: we can choose to build bridges, and we have nothing to fear.

Reflection questions:

  • What systems do you benefit from that exploit or marginalize another?
  • When it comes to dismantling those systems, what fears do you have that prevent you from advocating for others?
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *