We see two types of fear in today’s lesson. The first one is the disciples’ fear of a ghostly figure. In psychiatry, there’s a specific term for this when it presents serious symptoms of panic attacks, lack of sleep, and shortness of breath. It’s called phasmophobia. It’s broadly related to anxiety disorder and its causes may be genetics or past trauma. It’s hard to believe the disciples suffer from phasmophobia since their fear is understandable. Who would’ve thought they would see Jesus walking on the sea and approaching their boat?
The other type of fear is that of drowning. Of course, there’s also a name for this specific fear. It’s thalassophobia. Let’s not be confused with aquaphobia (fear of water) or hydrophobia (extreme fear of water as a clinical symptom of human rabies). Again, it’s hard to believe Peter suffers from thalassophobia, and probably not aquaphobia. But who knows Peter might be scared of water in general because he knows too much about what a storm can do. No matter how courageous we are, we all have some kind of fear. For example, if one has a fear of insects, lantern flies that we so commonly see nowadays aren’t too pleasant to be around. Their black spots on the wing tips might remind us of fungus that damage crops. Recognizing fear happens all the time even if we don’t want to feel it, what matters then is how to manage our minds when fear arises. The worst kind of fear which is also the common fear all living creatures share would be death. The disciples are terrified when they misperceive Jesus as a ghost who would harm their lives. Peter doesn’t merely seek out help but cries out, “Save me.” One interesting factor between these two fear-triggered happenings is that neither the disciples nor Peter can see Jesus when their minds are blinded by fear. Fear obscures what is and displays what if. When our minds are caught up in the realm of what-ifs, we restlessly wander around from one thought to another. In the basic training of chaplaincy, there are certain rules to keep in mind. I call them basic, but basic doesn’t mean easy to follow. Rather, it is much easier to be disregarded. One of these fundamental rules is that fear or anxiety is not to be explored but contained. The idea is similar to how the CDC tries to contain the coronavirus from spreading. Contain fear. Don't expand it. If explored, it spreads. Jesus becomes that container for the disciples and Peter. His voice cuts through the fog of a fear-mongering ghost and brings the disciples back to reality. His hand reaches out to Peter who is stuck in a life-threatening mucilage of fear. The contact between their hands reconnects Peter with reality. Reality is made of what is, and anything outside is what if. How frequently we experience fear varies individually. When you do, what do you do? Is there anyone who can help you back to reality? If so, you’re blessed and that person is a blessing to you. But if you’re alone and fear smears in, what do you do? As Christians, we pray. We may pray that God takes away fear immediately but that’s more of a drug that one needs to take the edge off. Another way of praying is to sit in silence and face that fear. In that storm of fear, hear the voice of Jesus, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Memorize this saying of Jesus and use it as your meditation formula or mantra. (i.e. the 5th century Saint John Cassian’s mantra was “Oh God come to my aid; Oh Lord make haste to help me.”) Repeat those words intentionally and internally to your heart. Root it in the very depth of your belly so that it becomes your center. Let it ring and linger. The above is one of the ways to cultivate the peace that the resurrected Christ shares. And we don’t just do this for our sake. We desire our presence of peace to be available to those in fear. But we cannot just have that desire to support others. We ourselves must experience that peace in our bodies and minds and practice it. Once it becomes our habit or a part of the rule of life, we don’t need to look for those in fear. Whoever we meet would sense peace in our presence. We become that voice and hand of Jesus that stretches out. Be that voice. Be that hand. Be the presence of Christ. |
Paul"...life up your love to that cloud [of unknowing]...let God draw your love up to that cloud...through the help of his grace, to forget every other thing." Archives
January 2025
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