"Our Saviour is coming. Have no more fear". Our Entrance Antiphon today looks to the words of the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah to encourage us with the certainty that God is about to fulfil the great promise of the Messiah. Usually when the Word of God encourages us to "have no more fear" or "do not be afraid", God also gives us a reason: "our Saviour is coming". Today's Responsorial Psalm encourages us in a similar way: "Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him". "Fear him" means to live reverentially according to the mind and heart of God. Then we shall have no need to fear anything, for the promise is clear: God's salvation is near to one who leads such a reverential and devout life.

The addition of a reason to every invitation to put aside all fear teaches us that our hope is reasonable. In putting aside all fear, we are not fooling ourselves but rather showing a deep trust in God. It is a fruitful prayer exercise to look back over your life and see the times when you might have been afraid but found that God's grace was available to help you through difficulties.