Fear Not 220

Beloved children of God, as we gather in the spirit of the primitive Church, let us reflect deeply on the divine command issued to Joshua: 'Be strong and courageous.' This verse from the book of Joshua opens a window into the heart of God for His people at a time of great change and challenge. Historically, following the death of Moses the lawgiver, the Israelites were encamped east of the Jordan River, preparing for the conquest of Canaan. Joshua, who had served faithfully as Moses' minister and spy, receives the solemn call to leadership, with the promise of success contingent upon strict adherence to the entire Mosaic law without deviation. The venerable Fathers of the Church, including the insightful Origen of Alexandria, saw in Joshua a profound prefiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Savior whose very name means 'the Lord saves.' In his series of homilies on Joshua, Origen draws rich parallels between the miraculous crossing of the Jordan and the sacrament of baptism, and the subsequent battles against the seven Canaanite nations as emblematic of the Christian's struggle against the seven deadly sins and the powers of darkness. Likewise, St. Augustine of Hippo, in his masterful expositions on the scriptures, emphasizes that true courage is a theological virtue infused by grace, enabling the soul to persevere through the trials of this earthly pilgrimage toward the celestial city of God. From the treasury of patristic wisdom compiled in the Catena Aurea and other collections, we understand that the injunction not to turn aside to the right or to the left signifies the royal middle path of Christian virtue, avoiding the extremes of presumption and despair, laxity and rigorism. This message was particularly vital in the early centuries when the nascent Church faced fierce external persecutions from pagan emperors and insidious internal divisions from heresies such as Arianism and Gnosticism. The courage called for is that of the holy apostles, who after the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost spoke boldly the word of God despite threats from the Sanhedrin. Therefore, dear faithful, let us apply this ancient exhortation to our contemporary lives with renewed vigor. Be strong in daily prayer and fasting, courageous in performing acts of charity toward the poor and marginalized, and steadfast in upholding the pure doctrine of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. The Lord who promised His abiding presence to Joshua is the same Lord who assures His Church that He will be with us always, even to the consummation of the ages. May we, through His grace, obtain the promised rest and eternal inheritance through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns forever. Amen. #FearNot220 #FearNotUNPLUGGED #145of220 #Catholic