Worst Possible Fear: 6th Sunday after Epiphany

If you’re not shocked by Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel, then the Good News of Jesus Christ has been tamed and domesticated by too much hearing of the same words, Sunday after Sunday. “Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire…If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away…And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” Hyperbole? Of course. But don’t call it hyperbole too soon before feeling the fear that you would naturally feel if, at least initially, you took Jesus’ words literally.

Sometimes, the only way for us to be healed of our fear is to take the most catastrophic fears of our hearts, and at least say them to ourselves. Psychologists actually have a name for the problem of obsessing over our worst possible fears: Catastraphizing. To treat this syndrome, counselors advise their patients to write out the worst possible outcome associated with their worry, think about that outcome, and then rate the probability of this event actually happening. Usually, the patient realizes that their worst fear is really not that likely to happen. Sometimes, someone being counseled for this problem is advised to predict the consequences of this worst possible outcome. Quite often, the consequences may not be as bad as one first thought. Or you might find that there are ways with which you could cope with those consequences. The point is that when we face our worst fears, we find that they will not be the death of us.

Two thousand years ago, before there were mental health counselors and psychologists, Jesus Christ the Son of God understood the healing power of facing one’s worst fear. In the facing of those worst fears, we are healed from their power over us. Then we can take the next step of healing, and face the more real fears of our lives, the really deep fears that we dare not speak, even to those closest to us. Psychologists might be able to help us with the fantasies that sometimes paralyze us. But only the forgiving love of Jesus can heal us from the fears of our inadequacy, our failure, and our sin.

“I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Who has never been angry? No one of course, so Jesus appears to be saying that “everyone” is liable to judgment and the hell of fire. “Come to terms quickly with your accuser,” Jesus warns us, “lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” What hope can there be possibly be for us when emotions, over which we have little control, will get us thrown into prison and fire?

But has anyone ever been thrown into prison for an emotion? Of course not. That is the worst possible outcome, which we can put before us on the table; look at it; consider it, and then dismiss it. With the fear of divine judgment and hellfire now dismissed, we can then face those real emotions: resentment, anger, frustration, regret. And then we can begin to come to terms with whatever has caused us to feel resentful, angry, frustrated, sad or remorseful. And in that coming to terms, we might begin to take the first step of that forgiveness which is the only real cure for our broken hearts.

But what if we really look into the darkness of our hearts? And what if we find that all those painful feelings and memories are so deep that it might seem easier to tear out one’s eye or cut off one’s hand rather than face those deepest fears, resentments, and regrets? Put that on that table in front of you, Jesus says. Look at it, think about it. And then let it sink in that neither the Law of Moses, nor the Good News of Jesus Christ, requires amputation. Sweep that worst possible fear off the table. What is left? Your heart, with all its scars, its anger, its regret and its remorse. What else is left? Jesus Christ, who knows your most secret fears better than you do. He has always known them. And He has been waiting in the darkest part of your heart.

He is waiting there right now, not to condemn you to hellfire, or to cut off that which is most dear to you. He is there in your heart, ready to forgive you, and ready to help you forgive. Mental health counselors can help us dismiss those worst possible fantasies that frighten us. So can Jesus Christ. But only Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, can cure us of those pains of the heart that we fear to reveal, even to ourselves. Only in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, can we find the forgiveness we need, and the power to forgive. Only in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, can we find the peace that casts the fear out of our hearts. Be not afraid. God himself, in Jesus Christ, is this close to you. Of what, then, should we be afraid?