Perhaps the most well known line ever spoken by Franklin Roosevelt comes to mind as I reflect on this gospel passage. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Jesus tells us to fear no one, yet who among us isn’t afraid of something? We fear everything imaginable from spiders to thunderstorms and some of these fears stop us from enjoying the fullness of life.
To address that reality in her class, one fourth-grade teacher handed out sheets of paper to her students and asked them to write down all of their ‘I can’ts,’ namely, those things they believed they could not do but wanted to do. I can’t kick the soccer ball very far. I can’t get Debbie to like me. I can’t do long division with more than three numerals. Even the teacher made a list. I can’t get Dan’s mother to come to a conference. I can’t get my son to put gas in the car. I can’t get my spouse to use words instead of fists when he is upset. I can’t get along with my neighbor.
They wrote for ten minutes. Then the teacher instructed everyone to fold their sheets in half, and solemnly place their ‘I can’t’ lists in the empty shoebox on her desk. After adding her list, the teacher taped the lid on the box, and with her students in tow, marched out of the room, down the hall and out to the playground, carrying the box.
They marched to the furthest corner of the playground. There each student took turns digging the hole in which they were going to bury their ‘I can’ts.’ When done the box full of ‘I can’ts’ was placed in the freshly dug grave. The teacher then delivered this eulogy.
“Friends, we are gathered here today to honor the memory of I can’t. While he was here with us, he touched the lives of everyone, some more than others. We have provided I can’t with a final resting-place. He is survived by his brothers and sisters, I Can, I Will, and I’m going to Right Away. They are not as well known as their famous brother and are certainly not as strong and powerful. Perhaps someday with our help, they will make an even bigger mark on the world. May I Can’t rest in peace and may everyone present pick up their lives and move forward in his absence. Amen.”
They returned to their classroom where a reception was held for I Can’t complete with cookies, popcorn and juice. As part of the celebration, the teacher unveiled a tombstone on which was written, ‘I Can’t’ May he rest in peace. The paper tombstone hung in the room for the rest of the year. On those rare occasions whenever someone said, “I can’t,” the teacher simply pointed to the tombstone. The student would then remember that I Can’t had been laid to rest and try again to solve the problem.
Most of us yearn to do what is right and good for the sake of others but for any number of reasons, we often hesitate. Fear may prompt us to say up front, I can’t do that. I can’t give that. I can’t be like Mother Teresa. I can’t be a saint. I can’t forgive. I can’t talk about my faith. Three times Jesus tells us not to be afraid of anyone or anything except God. Like the fourth graders, we need to bury our own I can’t excuses and do what we can, each in our own way, to bring the light of Christ into the lives of those around us.
Had I let my personal litany of I can’ts prevail, I would not be standing here. I will never forget first midterm exam in the seminary. Despite hours of study, my mind went blank. I left the room, wondering if I was cut out to be a priest. My family would not have blamed me for leaving the seminary after that first year but I chose to hang in there. If God knew me so well as to know the hairs on my head, then I could trust God would be with me through thick and thin.
Like the fathers in our midst who act out of love and concern for their children, God the Father endeavors to protect us. His safety is better realized when we seek to be holy and true. Only those who deliberately choose to deny God will have any reason to fear God in the end.
The dominant theme of the readings is that Christ will free us from our fears. The remedy he offers us is found in trusting God, believing in providence and in his Father’s love for us. The real root of all fears is finding oneself alone, like that continuous fear of the child of being abandoned. Jesus points out that we are worth more than many sparrows so be assured that God seeks to be with you every step of your life
journey.
To better realize God’s saving presence in our lives, we must think I can, not I can’t. I can love. I can forgive. I can pray. I can serve. I can honor. I can believe. I can resist the temptation to sin. I can share the good news of Jesus Christ. Like any loving parent, God isn’t asking the impossible of us. Instead, God desires to give us the grace to believe that life is worth living.
Any experienced mountaineer will tell you that scaling a peak is too dangerous to try alone. Likewise, scaling the peak of life is too dangerous to try alone. When we walk with God every step of the way, recognizing Jesus as the team leader who provides us with good direction, we will reach the heavenly peak someday. Otherwise, we could end up in the abyss of the Gehenna along with others who said, “I can’t” to God’s invitation to walk with his son every step of the way.