“Whether we like it or not, we live in a climate of fear,” said the Chief Apostle. And he knows the only sensible remedy for this. Here is the divine service based on our annual motto.
Fear and uncertainty are palpable worldwide, explained Jean-Luc Schneider on 4 January 2026 in the congregation of Esch-sur-Alzette in Luxembourg. These fears stem from numerous armed conflicts and wars, societal changes, as well as climate change and environmental destruction, which pose an existential threat to humanity in many regions. Personal concerns—about children and grandchildren, illness, or the future of our congregations and the Church—add to this anxiety.
One Father, a hope, and a miracle
All of these fears are justified and understandable, the Chief Apostle admitted. “And the only intelligent response we can have is to turn to God, to turn to our Lord Jesus, and share these fears with Him—to bring our concerns and worries to Him and commend ourselves to His care.
This is exactly what the biblical Jairus did, the ruler of the synagogue, whose little daughter was at the point of death. Jesus agreed to go to Jairus’ home to heal her but was delayed along the way. And so a messenger arrived, bringing the news of the little girl’s death. It was then that Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just believe” (Mark 5: 36). And He continued on His way with Jairus, and when He arrived at the house, Jesus brought the girl back to life.
One who is greater than any danger
“Don’t be afraid” applies to each one of us, regardless of the situation. Jesus does not trivialise the dangers. But He makes it clear that He is greater than any threat. Because He decides the end of the story. In the end, Jesus always wins. And if it seems like He is not winning, it simply means that the story isn’t over yet!
“Just believe!” Some may see this as a weakness. In reality, the Chief Apostle emphasised, faith is a power that helps us to confront difficulties and that protects us from being dominated by fear.
When fear eats away at the heart
Because fear and anxiety can quickly take control of our thinking and perception. And this has drastic consequences for our own spiritual life, as well as for our relationship with God and our fellow human beings, the Chief Apostle analysed.
All joy is destroyed, and all the positive things are obscured. People have become obsessed with material security and are increasingly willing to violate the commandments in its pursuit. As egoism grows, so too does indifference toward the fate of others. Individuals withdraw into themselves, distancing themselves from anything that is different, and then turn outward to find someone to blame for their misery.
“Don’t be afraid” means refusing to let fear take control of our lives, knowing that Jesus Christ has the solution. He leads us into a kingdom without suffering and death, into a new creation where there is perfect harmony with God and among humankind.
When faith begins to crack
“Just believe!” To consolidate our faith, we must hear God’s word and receive Holy Communion. But above all, there is a lot of personal work to be done. This includes freeing our faith from secondary concerns and focusing on what is essential.
Personal faith is a mixture of various elements, explained the Chief Apostle: traditions and upbringing, teachings handed down to us, advice we have received, and our own convictions and interpretations. Not all of these elements hold to be true or prove to be reliable. When certain aspects fail to meet our expectations, we can become disappointed, begin to call everything into question, or even discard our faith entirely.
Back to the core of faith
Individual treasures of faith are valuable, but not absolute. They do not always work for everyone or everywhere. By contrast, the things that Jesus teaches us—the gospel—are always true. This is formulated for the New Apostolic creed in the Ten Articles of Faith. “Let us take a closer look at our creed,” appealed the Chief Apostle.
When faith is rooted in what is essential, it does not disappoint. It provides stability, peace, and confidence. “And if we go into the new year with this faith, it will not solve all our problems, nor will it solve the problems of the world. But we will know how to deal with them, and we will be able to confront them.”
Photos: ENA France
Fotos: ENA France
