“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:10-11).
Certainly, we have all experienced fear, and we know it brings about many negative feelings far from joy. We have also experienced joy and see that it produces the opposite of fear. It was night, and the shepherds were sleeping when the Angel of the Lord appeared to them. Undoubtedly, the Angel knew that the first emotion the shepherds would feel in his presence would be fear. Why? It’s a good question: Why did the shepherds feel fear? They had probably never seen an angel in their lives, and it’s natural to feel fear in the face of the unknown, especially if the unknown is supernatural.
That’s why the Angel immediately tells them not to be afraid, bringing them good news that will be of great joy for them and all people. Most likely, these words captured the shepherds’ attention, and they immediately opened their ears and hearts to receive this good news: “Today, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Upon receiving this news, the scripture says that a multitude of angels immediately sang the hymn of “Glory to God in the highest” for the first time on earth. The shepherds set out by an act of faith. When they saw the Child, their hearts were filled with immense joy.
At his Inauguration Mass, Pope St. John Paul II laid out the central message of his pontificate: “Do not be afraid. Open, I say, open wide the doors for Christ.”
In a world wounded by fear and distrust, the words “Do not be afraid” will always be timely. The proclamation of the Good News will always be essential: Christ the Lord! He is the Good News, the source of joy in the shepherds’ hearts, not the angels.
Jesus Christ is the source of joyful and authentic faith that compels us to open our hearts to him. Once we open our hearts to him, he enters and drives out our fears, filling us with joy to go out and encounter Christ this Christmas. This is the central message of Christmas: God incarnated in the Virgin Mary, became Man, born to save us, to encounter us, to stay with us, and to reign in each heart that receives Him as the Lord and God.
This is the Good News that has changed the world, the best news that the human ear has received. This is why Christmas is the most celebrated feast season worldwide. Let us not be afraid to proclaim this Good News to those who have not heard it, those who need to listen to it, and those who feel fear because they have not known the source of joy.
Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila invites all men and women of goodwill to join him in prayer during the Advent season and throughout December with this intention: “That we all may open our hearts like the shepherds to the message of the Angels this Christmas season and respond with joyful faith to the Good News that God has sent us the Savior to redeem us.”