DO NOT BE AFRAID

DO NOT BE AFRAID


The time is RAPIDLY approaching-
For when Jesus
Is to leave us=FOR GOOD


He doesn't write a rule book-
Or leave us
With outlines and policies


He offers us a TENDER GOODBYE=
Full of LOVING CARE


“Do NOT let tour hearts
Be troubled or AFRAID” John 14:27


He offers us words
Of COMFORT=and of PROMISE-
And he BLESSES us
With the gift of PEACE
And tells us
NOT to be afraid


He speaks of his
PROFOUND CONNECTION to the Father-
And his longing
To RETURN to him


PEACE=in this often turbulent-
Violent world=what more
COULD you offer someone?


“Have salt among yourselves=
And be at PEACE
With each other” Mark 9:50


“PEACE-I leave with you-
My PEACE I give to you


I do not give you
As the world gives


Do NOT let your hearts
Be troubled
And do NOT BE AFRAID” John 14:27


Peace and WITHOUT FEAR=if you were
LEAVING the world
For the final time


What more could you
Offer someone?


And “do not be afraid” is spoken
Often in and during
The SCRIPTURES


The prophet Isaiah
Offers it to Israel
In exile=
“Do not be afraid-for
I am with you” Isaiah 43:5


It is spoken by
The angel =to Mary


And it is spoken to Joseph
In his DREAM=
To propel HIS FAMILY
To safety


Jesus tells us to be
FEARLESS=for he is ALWAYS
With us=he will CONTINUE
To protect us-
Even after he is gone


IMAGINE Jesus speaking to you=
“Do not be afraid”=over and over to yourself
Wherever you are
In life


And imagine Jesus=STANDING
Right beside you=
PROTECTING YOU
For all of time


“You are
My hiding place


You will PROTECT ME
From trouble-
And surround me


With songs of deliverance” Psalm 32:7


“I will remain
In the world
No longer-
But they


Are still
In the world
And I am coming
To you=Holy Father


PROTECT THEM by the power
Of your name
The name you
Gave me


So that they may be ONE-
As we are one” John 17:11


Well=Jesus is LEAVING US-
But


“DO NOT BE AFRAID”=
For he is still PROTECTING US and
So is the Father=
And the HOLY SPIRIT


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
5-20-19




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M.