Stand up Do not be afraid.

Second Sunday of Lent

March 8, 2020

Matthew 17, 1-9

I read an article this past week that I probably shouldn’t have. It was about what to do to avoid the corona virus. Most of them I am doing but… it said you shouldn’t touch your face as a way to avoid the corona virus. It explained how it is impossible to touch a surface that hasn’t been contaminated. That if the Corona Virus is out there and it is on a door knob, a seat buckle, a computer screen, a shopping cart and then I touch it and if I touch my face, especially my eyes, or nose or mouth there is a good chance that I am going to infect myself. So now I am trying to be aware of how often I touch myself. President Trump said that he hasn’t touched his face for two weeks but I guess I don’t have the self-control that the President does. I am always touching my face.

Am I afraid of getting the corona virus? Probably not but I am afraid or concerned about what will happen if there is a widespread incidence of the virus in Los Angeles, in California, the United States or the world. What are you afraid of? In the Gospel for today Jesus says, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” I don’t think I am paralyzed by fear but there are things that I am afraid of.

When I moved out here everyone teased me about the earthquakes. I’ve not been in an Earthquake so I think about it. What should I do? Someone said leave your shoes by the door. Someone else said that in the Whittier Earthquake their china cabinet crashed and I think, “Are there things on the wall that might fall on me.” After I got out here I was concerned about the wildfires, the power shortages, global warming, the presidential election. The list goes on.

What are you afraid of? What should we be afraid of? Is it good to be afraid? Or should we just keep living our lives as we always have? Jesus said to the first disciples 2000 years ago, “Rise up and do not be afraid.” Jesus says to we his disciples today, “Rise up and do not be afraid.”

I think that we can learn a great deal but reflecting on the account of the transfiguration for today’s Gospel. It can help deal with our fear of the corona virus, or whatever it is that we are afraid of. It can help us to put things into context.

First of all it is important to see what Jesus isn’t saying. Jesus isn’t saying, “don’t worry.” He isn’t saying, “Don’t prepare or take precautions.” If we believe in Jesus is doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t wash our hands or go out in public even if we are sick. I remember my Uncle Wally saying that he never used a seatbelt because if the Lord called no seatbelt would save him. WWJD? Jesus would wear a seat belt.

Let’s put things in context. The transfiguration took place towards the ends of the Gospel, towards the end of Jesus’ life. When he came down from the mountain he was facing real danger, he had reason to be afraid. There had been attempts on his life; he would be facing condemnation and death. The disciples who were with him with the exception of John would also be martyred. So Jesus telling the disciples not to be afraid wasn’t because there was nothing to worry about. There had good reason to be worried. Just like we have good reason to be concerned about many things in our life today.

In the Gospel reading the disciples had experienced this great event of the transfiguration. They had seen Moses and Elijah conversing with Jesus. They had heard the voice of Jesus. They had reason to be afraid, but it says Jesus came near; he touched them and said, “Rise and do not be afraid.” What Jesus did for the first disciples he does for us.

Jesus’ action is moving. It says he drew near. Whatever it is that we are facing Jesus wants us to know that he is with us. He wants us to know that he loves us that we aren’t alone. He then does what the Center for Disease Control tells us not to do. He touched them. As we know today there is a danger in touching. But Jesus isn’t afraid to touch us. Jesus isn’t afraid to enter into our lives. No matter where we are, no matter how sick or diseased we think that we are, Jesus still reaches out to us. Then he says to us, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.” I can well imagine Jesus reaching out his hand to help us up. Yes, we have things to be concerned about. People are going to die from the corona virus. Earthquakes will come; wildfires and people will lose their lives. But we still get up and live our lives. And the important thing to remember is that we live our lives not as bankers or lawyers, teachers or students, waitresses or gardeners. No we live our lives as disciples of Jesus. Not in spite of the dangers of this world, but because of the dangers of the world we boldly live and profess our faith.

The corona virus will pass. We will be able to shake hands and drink from the cup once again. Tomorrow we will have something else to worry about. Jesus’ message will always be the same. As Jesus said to the disciples at Tabor he says to us today "Get up, do not be afraid." A voice from above is heard: "This is my beloved Son ... Listen to him." We must always respond as men and women of faith, listening to God revealed in Jesus Christ. Enlightened by his Word our human being healed at deepest roots. We can make sense of whatever crisis that faces us because Jesus is with us and we have an indestructible basic trust in Jesus.