Our reaction to fear will be among the best or worst aspects of our lives. We will either let ourselves be manipulated by fear into sinful compromises and eventual damnation, or we will refuse to be controlled by fear and eventually push it out of our lives (see 1 Jn 4:18). Therefore, Jesus repeatedly commands us: “Do not let them intimidate you” (Mt 10:26). “Do not fear those who deprive the body of life but cannot destroy the soul” (Mt 10:28). “Do not be afraid of anything” (Mt 10:31).

Our response to fear should be faith. Jesus told Jairus after his daughter died: “Do not fear, only believe” (Mk 5:36, RSV-CE). When his friends had turned against him in vengeance, Jeremiah had the faith to fearlessly proclaim: “The Lord is with me, like a mighty Champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph” (Jer 20:11). Even when we are enduring our own agony in the garden or suffering on our own Calvary, by faith we can refuse to be manipulated by fear. We can “say with confidence: ‘The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?’ ” (Heb 13:6) By faith we can proclaim: “The Lord is my life’s Refuge; of whom should I be afraid?...Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear” (Ps 27:1, 3). Fear not.

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from June 1, 2023, through July 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio December 14, 2022"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.