Scripture tells us that 'perfect love casts out fear', Jesus was constantly telling his disciples 'Do no be afraid', yet at his Passion most of them ran away afraid of the authorities. What a difference after Pentecost - filled with the Holy Spirit and the love of God the apostles transformed the world. If we are filled by the Holy Spirit then all fear leaves us. When we love God wholly then all fear leaves us because by faith we can say 'All things work for the good of those who love the Lord' - 'all things'. God is faithful to his promises. One of my favourite saints is the martyr St Stephen who was stoned to death but loved his enemies even unto death. 'The crowd could contain their anger no longer. They rushed upon Stephen, drove him outside the city to the place appointed, and stoned him. Stephen, full of "grace and fortitude" to the very end, met the great test without flinching, praying the Lord to receive his spirit and not to lay this sin against the people'. So perished the first martyr, his dying breath spent in prayer for those who killed him. Among those present at the scene and approving of the penalty meted out to Stephen was a young Jew named Saul, the future Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles: his own conversion to Christianity was to take place within a few short months. [The celebration of the Feast Day of St. Stephen is December 26] There was no fear in Stephen for he was full of grace and fortitude. Perhaps the measure of our spiritual progress is to examine the amount of fear in our lives. The remedy to fear is trust and faith - to believe that 'God is faithful'. He can never let us down for He is Abba Father and is with us every step of the way. We pray too for the power of the Spirit to fill our lives so that that all fear will be extinguished and the love of God will fill our hearts, minds and souls. Grace is the overflow of God's love. It is by grace alone that we are saved by faith working through acts of mercy and love. Love and mercy are shown by our words, deeds and prayers. The aim is to live like St Paul who said, 'For me to live is Christ to die is gain'.
