I recently watched the film “Darkest Hour” on a long plane flight. For those of you who are not familiar with it, the movie showcases the early days of
Winston Churchill as Prime Minister of England. Neville Chamberlain has just been ousted as PM due to his weakness in dealing with Hitler, as the Nazis begin to stream westward across Europe and is threatening France. Some of the cabinet members wanted to negotiate another peace treaty with Hitler as they are struck with increasing fear of the country being over run.
Churchill also has his doubts about how to proceed, and is tentative in his early approaches in dealing with Parliament and the King, though he does not trust the Germans. He decides to take an impromptu ride on the London subway and asks the passengers if they are willing to fight or should they surrender via a treaty. They overwhelmingly chant was to fight on and never surrender. Churchill then addresses Parliament. As the speech procedes you can feel the confidence and the fire growing in him culminating in the famous line about fighting them on the beaches:
“We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender”
While it was Franklin Roosevelt who made the famous quote about fear that I used in my title for today’s reflection, it was Churchill who seemed to really understand how to properly deal with fear.
Does this speech mean that Churchill was not afraid of what was to come? I don’t think so. It is a normal emotion to fear. It is actually a good thing. If we were not fearful to some degree, we would run headlong into situations we probably should not be in. But fear can also be crippling. In can cause a person to not act when action is critical. The idea is to not to eliminate fear, but to overcome it. To move forward in spite of being afraid, after carefully considering the options and the strategy needed.
It also takes inspiration. Some emotional driver that motivates. Churchill had it on the subway. He saw truth in the eyes of his countrymen. And I think Paul also received this motivation on the road to Damascus. His vision of the Lord caused an about-face turning a crucifier into a martyr for Christ and for us. When Paul wrote 2nd Timothy, he was in prison in Rome. This was his second go round with Roman authorities. He was released the first time after no case could be brought against him by the Jews. None that the Romans could accept.
But this time, Nero was in charge and the Christians were to blame, in his deranged mind, for all that was going wrong in Rome. And they had the head “trouble maker” in their prison. Paul knew this was the end. And it was. This was the last letter he was to write. He most certainly feared his death, as he undoubtedly did during his entire ministry from Syria to Rome. But this fear did not stop him from the work he knew he had to do. The work the Lord inspired him to do.
In today’s reading he tells us to turn to love and self-control, leading to power, instead of cowardice. He is trying to be Timothy’s inspiration. Apparently, Timothy was a bit reluctant to act. Reluctant to be confrontational. Thomas’ disbelief in the risen Lord led to him being called “Doubting Thomas”. I am thinking Timmy could easily be known as “Timid Timothy”. Paul recognized the gifts Timothy possessed. They just needed to be stirred up a bit. This letter was meant to arouse him, and us, to action.
I remember when I first got the notion to be involved in the Pro-Life movement. It meant standing outside an abortion clinic praying and being the face of pro-life. It was scary. Especially when protesters were there as well, screaming all sorts of obscenities at us. Or standing on a busy intersection holding signs of images of aborted babies. That was a tough one as cars went by very angry at what we were doing. This spring I stood on an overpass above a very bust Chicago expressway as we displayed large Pro Life banners. We got many “one finger salutes” that day but also got many more horns honking in support of what we were doing.
You may feel you are being called to some ministry to bring the Word to others. It might be lectoring at Mass, or singing, or teaching Religious Education Class or being on the Parish Council. You may never have done this kind of thing before and stepping out of your comfort zone does not come easy. How do you deal with the fear of confrontation, rejection, embarrassment? You get help from the One who is the Ultimate Help. You ask for God’s support through prayer, through reading Scripture, talking to friends, deacons and priests about your concerns. Then you ACT. You move forward and you TRY. It may not work out and you might have to change gears. But you will never know what you can do, are meant to do, unless to move forward.
The saint for today is St. Norbert. He reluctantly was ordained a priest, primarily for the benefits the clerical position offered but he had little desire to fulfill the calling of the position. Rocking the boat was not his forte. As happened with Saul, Norbert was thrown from his horse during a storm and felt the Lord calling him to a conversion of heart. He turned to being an itinerant preacher and combated the heresies and the indifference of the people in his native Germany.
There is no standing still. There is either forward or backward. And even a failed attempt is a step forward. A different world cannot be built by indifferent people. Remember what Neil Armstrong proclaimed from the surface of the moon: “This is one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind”. Take that first step. You never know what journey lies ahead.
Today’s Readings:
