[MajestyJo]

1 The words “Do not be afraid” appear 366
times throughout the whole of the Bible
- as though it is a daily message for each
day of a leap year. “Do not be afraid” is a
very basic message of the Bible.
2 The angel tells Mary not to be afraid
when she is asked to be the mother of
Jesus. Joseph is told not to be afraid, but
to take Mary as his wife, and the shepherds
in the fields were told not to be
afraid.
3 Jesus calls Simon Peter to follow him,
telling him not to be afraid. When Jesus
walks on the water towards his disciples
in their boat, he sees what they are like
and says: “Have courage, don’t be afraid;
it’s me!”
4 Jesus says: “No one is forgotten in God’s
sight. There’s no need to be afraid, because
you are precious. Don’t worry about the
future.” When Jesus rises from the dead,
he says to his friends: “Don’t be afraid…I
leave you my peace.”
5 Let’s pause for a moment in silence, remembering
that God calls each of us by
name and tells each of us not to be afraid.
Let’s pause for a moment and each simply
repeat those words in silence a few
times - “Do not be afraid” - starting with
our own name.
(pause…)