Isaiah 61:1-3 Revelation 21:2-7 John 14:1-6

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled… I go to prepare a place for you.”

Hundreds of times, throughout the Old and New Testament, we hear this command.  Here, as in many instances, the phrasing is different, but the meaning is the same:  God, our creator, is saying to us, “Do not be afraid.”  If I were to ask you to name the most frequent command of the Bible, you would likely say, “Love God; love your neighbor.”  In reality, and not at all separate from those commands, the most frequent and the most difficult for us to follow is, “Do not be afraid.”

In these last weeks as we have prepared for and celebrated Christmas, we have heard this sacred command.  Just last Sunday, reading from the birth narrative as recorded by Matthew, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph who is restless and agitated over the news that Mary, his espoused, is expecting a child.   “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  Do not be afraid.

At the time of annunciation, Mary, too, is assured by the angel Gabriel that she is not to be afraid.  “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God.” [Luke 1:30].  And, again, as the angel of the Lord heralds the news of the Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, the good news is prefaced with the words, “Do not be afraid; for you see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” [Luke 2:10].

Later in Matthew, Jesus assures us that even the hairs on our heads are all counted by God, thus, we are of great value; we are not to be afraid.

Indeed, as far back as Genesis at the time of God’s covenant with Abraham, the first words of the Lord are, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield.” [Genesis 15:1a]

Over and over, throughout the scripture, God implores his people, “Do not be afraid.”

The setting for the Gospel lesson chosen for today is what we often title The Upper Room.  Jesus and his disciples have shared their last meal together; Jesus, taking the position of a slave, has bathed the feet of his disciples.  Before the next evening, Jesus will have died on the Cross.  Yet, these words that we read are Jesus’ words – his last words to his beloved disciples, nearly all of whom will deny their association with him, abandon him when he needs them the most, and flee in fear for their own earthly safety.  Even Judas who will betray him is among the group, hearing Jesus’ words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Jesus is fully aware of the horrors that are to come – the horrors he will endure and the horrors that these beloved disciples will endure in the near future as their fear is, in the end, overcome by faith, as they, themselves, pick up the Cross and are martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.

Certainly, as for these disciples, there is much to be feared in our earthly lives.  Perhaps our greatest fear, however, is our earthly death and the death of those we love most.  How hard it is to absorb these words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” How hard it is for us frail humans to have faith that overcomes our fears.  How hard it can be to believe down deep into our souls that Jesus has indeed prepared a dwelling place for us that surpasses all human imagination or understanding.  How hard it is to follow this command, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Yet, Mary Catherine, surrounded by those who loved her the most and cared for her with such compassion, regardless of her lack of clarity, surely understood that she was protected – that she was not to fear.  Phrased and exhibited in so many ways, Mary Catherine understood that there was no need to be afraid – that her heart was not to be troubled.

In conversations with Dick regarding Mary Catherine’s decline over these past years, the image would come to mind of a time I ventured out into my yard on an errand during a rare Mid-Atlantic blizzard.  Taking only a few steps and finding myself completely disoriented less than five feet from my back deck, I quickly abandoned the errand and felt my way back to the safety of a porch rail I could follow back into the house.  I have never forgotten the sense of panic that came from those few moments of fear-filled disorientation.  I was desperate for the way of safety, something to guide my footsteps in the right direction, sensing that going any further in the wrong direction would mean vanishing into an abyss.

Each of you, in some way, has helped guide Mary Catherine’s footsteps safely through the last years and months of her life.  Through your prayers, compassionate words, and physical assistance, you have been the voice of the angel assuring her there was no need to be afraid – the strong arm providing sure footing, guiding the way, responding with compassion to her confused thoughts, tending to her needs up until the Lord himself took her hand to guide her into the dwelling place prepared for her.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  Believing in the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ, is the sure footing that nurtures our faith to overcome our fears – even our fears of our earthly death.  As David affirms in Psalm 23, “I will fear no evil.”

Mary Catherine is thinking clearly and walking steadily now in her heavenly dwelling place.  She would want you to know and understand down deeply into your soul the message of the angels – the joyous message of our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Believe.”

Burial of Mary Catherine Hamilton Harrison