Jeremiah 23:5-8. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever – Psalm 71(72):1-2, 12-13, 18-19. Matthew 1:18-24.

Do not be afraid: this is one of the most common phrases in the Bible, appearing more than 100 times. Fear is one of the most basic and natural human emotions we all experience. Fear is what keeps us alive when facing real threats to our survival, but it is also what can paralyse us when we perceive danger all around us. We might be afraid of heights, or of public speaking, or of being alone, or of being rejected, or of failing, or of being judged, or of getting hurt.All of these fears are very real to us, but they can result in us feeling overwhelmed and unable to move through the fear. I wonder what fears Joseph had? Was he afraid of an uncertain future, of being ridiculed? An angel of the Lord tells him: do not be afraid, the child that will be born will save God’s people. God is indeed with us, always, even when we are afraid. Let’s place that fear in God’s hands, who is big enough to handle all our fears.