Fear & Theophany

an essay for Michaelmas

If I open my eyes, I just may die, I thought.

Chris Manion

The Scripture is absolutely full of instances where fearful people are told—usually by angels—Fear not!

And that has always made me wonder: does fear really have no place in a life of faith?

If I’m honest, I like a bit of fear. I enjoy horror movies, especially ones that are less focused on gore and more focused on compelling narratives. I love a good ghost story. I appreciate suspense and mystery. It’s a taste of fear. Controlled fear, not likely to do any real harm.

Is such fear a sin?

Fear is such an interesting emotion that human society has built whole traditions around it. The modern-day upcoming “spooky season” around Hallowe’en used to frustrate and frighten me, but now I find it an important societal ritual in the arc of the year. It puts all our ghosts and goblins in one place. It asks us to ponder mortality without losing ourselves.

But we’ll talk more about Hallowe’en at a later date, don’t you worry.

Instead, today is Michaelmas, the liturgical celebration of Saint Michael the Archangel. There are all kinds of traditions around this day, many of them rooted in foundations that are lost to time. Michael is often depicted defeating a dragon and is sometimes mounted on a fiery horse, sword in hand. The dragon is Satan, trampled under the feet of the angel and his steed, vanquished.

Michael, like most angels, is a symbol of divine power, of strength, and of the utter triumph of good over evil. But he is also, like most angels, fearful to behold. Even terrifying.

Fear not!

In the Bible, people were encouraged not to fear because those doing the encouraging were extremely fearful to behold. Real, biblical angels are frightening. God in His glory is completely overwhelming to the point where mortals are unable to look upon His face. The fear around these beings is cosmic, mind-altering. Theophany, the experience of truly meeting God in a visible form, leaves no one unchanged.

So we are told, as gently as possible over the rushing of angelic wings and the chorus of jubilant saints, Fear not!

But just in case no one told you, I think it’s important to be clear:

Fear is not a sin. Fear is the proper response to the unknown, the unusual, in a dangerous and unpredictable world. It is where our minds run when we think we might be harmed. When we know better, we soften. But until then, we close like a slammed door.

And God knows this, better than anyone. Fear, after all, is a gift in a world where harm and death exist. Fear can serve us, in a crisis. Fear can preserve us, when wielded correctly. God allows us to fear because fear is necessary in such a world.

That is why the first words from His lips and those of His messengers are Fear not.

It’s not because it’s wrong to be afraid. It’s because He knows that the mechanism He gave us to protect ourselves in this fallen world has only one key, and it is understanding. Gentleness. Love.

He speaks, the only key to calm our fear in the face of holy terror, of pure glory. The greatest Unknown there is.

Fear not, because I know you are afraid.

Fear not, because I understand.

Fear not, because I’m not here to harm or frighten you.

Fear not.

Open the door, let Me in.

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