"Do not be afraid!" For the first time we hear God telling us not to be afraid. In the earlier stories of Adam and Noah, there is reference to fear, but God did not tell them not to be afraid. Just as real history begins with the call of Abraham, so too God's more intimate dealing with us begins with the call not to be afraid. Whenever God enters into personal contact with us, we experience a certain fear in the divine presence. Mary was disturbed at the Annunciation; the disciples were terrified when they saw Jesus walking on the water. There are many other such examples in the Bible. On each occasion, God, either directly or through a prophet or an angel or in the person of Jesus, encourages us not to be afraid.

The call not to be afraid is thus a sign of God's presence. In his first letter, Saint John tells us that God is love and also that in perfect love there is no fear. We may then say that, in the presence of God who is perfect love, there is never any need for us to be afraid.