Don’t Let Fear Choose Your Direction

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There is something striking in today’s Gospel. The Pharisees come to Jesus and say, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” That sounds like the kind of warning that should make someone change plans immediately. But Jesus does not panic. He does not run. He does not let fear decide where He will go. He simply continues the mission the Father has given Him. And maybe that is the question for us today: How many of our decisions are actually being made by fear?

Fear is powerful because it can sound very reasonable. Fear says, “Don’t speak up.” Fear says, “Don’t forgive yet.” Fear says, “Don’t try again.” Fear says, “Protect yourself first.” Sometimes fear even disguises itself as wisdom. But Jesus shows us something different. Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is refusing to let fear become your master. Jesus knows what awaits Him in Jerusalem. He knows rejection, suffering, and the Cross are ahead. And still He goes. Why? Because love, not fear, is choosing His direction.

Then Jesus says something incredibly tender: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.” That image changes everything. The same Jesus who refuses to be intimidated by Herod is also the Jesus who longs to gather His people close. Strength and tenderness are not opposites in Him. He is brave enough to face the Cross, but gentle enough to mourn over those who refuse His love. Sometimes we think holiness means becoming tough, unaffected, untouchable. But Jesus shows us that real strength is having a heart that can still love even after being rejected.

And maybe that is where this Gospel becomes personal. There are moments when God wants to gather us, but we resist Him. We say we want peace, but we keep holding onto resentment. We say we want God’s will, but only if it matches our plans. We say we trust Him, but then fear makes the final decision. Jesus says, in effect, “I wanted to gather you, but you were unwilling.” That is a painful line. God’s grace is offered, but love cannot be forced. The question is not whether God wants us close. He does. The question is whether we are willing to come under His wings.

So perhaps today we need to ask two things: What fear is directing me right now? And where am I resisting the love of God? Jesus does not promise an easy road. He simply shows us how to walk it: with courage, with trust, and with a heart that remains open. The world may threaten, disappoint, or reject us. But if Christ is our direction, fear does not get the final word.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when fear begins to guide my choices, bring me back to You. Give me courage to follow where You lead, and humility to let myself be gathered close to Your heart. Teach me to trust Your love more than my fear, and to keep loving even when the road is difficult. Amen.

– Homily by Rev. Fr. Patrick Agbeko