Do Not Be Afraid

Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan, merely nineteen years of age, is the winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize and just recently, the recipient of an honorary Canadian Citizenship; a noticeably rare and one of the highest honours given to a foreign national. Similar honours have only been awarded to five other individuals, namely the 14th Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, Karim Aga Khan IV, and Raoul Wallenberg. Canadian Senator Romeo Dallaire, Commander of the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, leads the fight against recruitment of child soldiers despite his own struggles with PTSD after helplessly witnessing one of the most horrible atrocities against humanity in modern history. What do a 19-year-old Pakistani girl and a 70-year-old retired Canadian soldier have in common?

Just as Jeremiah exclaims, “Terror is all around!” in this week's first reading, both individuals were forced into the fight of their lives (Jer 20:10). Malala Yousafzai, an outspoken activist for education for girls, was barely fifteen when shot by the Taliban. In her address to the Canadian Parliament on April 12, 2017, she admitted that she had “seen fear and experienced times when [she] didn't know if [she] was safe or not” (CBC News). As a young girl, she lived in constant fear just because she wanted what every child in Canada has taken for granted, an education. As she recovered from the gunshot wound that almost took her life, her conviction grew. Speaking to the Canadian Parliamentarians, she insists that “education is vital for security around the world because extremism grows alongside inequality — in places where people feel they have no opportunity, no voice, no hope” (Ibid). Indeed, she has found strength under the most extraordinary circumstances and remains one of the strongest advocates for girls' education.

Similarly, Romeo Dallaire's faith in God and humanity never falters despite the horror he witnessed during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. His requests to the United Nations for increased military support were continuously denied as the killing escalated. He was deeply troubled and frustrated when help never came. One could only imagine the betrayal he felt during his darkest moments when his friends - the UN - abandoned him. The words of Jeremiah come alive in Dallaire's struggles, “‘Denounce him! Let us denounce him!' All my close friends are watching for me to stumble” (Jer 20:10). Though overwhelmed by hopelessness and isolation at times, he insisted on doing the right thing when confronted with unspeakable violence, “I was on the ground, I was in command, I had been given the mission, and I took the decision” (Dallaire, Shake Hands with the Devil). During the early days of the Genocide, he stood his ground and managed to save thousands with very limited resources. Just as Jeremiah takes refuge in God, Dallaire remains steadfast to God and believes that God will deliver “the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers” (Jer 20:13). He writes, “I know there is a God because in Rwanda I shook hands with the devil. I have seen him, I have smelled him and I have touched him. I know the devil exists and therefore I know there is a God” (Ibid). Indeed, where there is darkness, there is light. In spite of his struggles with PTSD, he becomes an important voice to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers and the prevention of mass atrocities. Dallaire's actions during and after the Genocide, propelled by his faith and hope, bear powerful witness to God's love and saving grace.

Both Malala Yousafzai and Romeo Dallaire did not choose to suffer in the hands of “evildoers”; however, each has rejected fear and despair, and courageously answered the call “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). In extraordinarily challenging situations, neither of them resort to violence or fall into the bottomless pit of despair. As Christians, the foundation of our strength lies in our conviction that Christ's “free gift in the grace of one man” surpasses all trials and tribulations (Rm 5:15). This is a profound call for all, especially Christians who proclaim Christ's victory over death, once and for all. As we strive to make the right choices and shine God's light over darkness of fear and hopelessness through our actions, God's gentle voice, saying, “do not be afraid”, reminds us that we are certainly “of more value than many sparrows” (Mt 10:31). Therefore, let us not “fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:26). Let us take courage to be visible signs of God's hope and love amidst darkness.