For so long we have been taught that Christianity is a journey towards an angry God who will judge us for our wrongdoings - that life is a pilgrimage of fear. But what we have here, in the gospel, is a different story altogether. Rather than us walking in trepidation towards that terrifying God, what we find is our Jesus walking towards us - who are terrified - to greet us with words of comfort and peace. ‘Do not be afraid’ is Jesus’ signature message. ‘Do not be afraid’ is the first thing he wants us to hear every morning; ‘Do not be afraid’ is what he whispers to us through every change and chance of life; ‘Do not be afraid’ is what he tells us in the eye of every storm. 

A talk for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity, 9 August 2020. Find the text to this and all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.