In Jesus’ “A Course in Miracles” teaching on fear/hatred, he tells us, “You may wonder why it is so crucial that you look upon your hatred and realize its full extent. And you may think that it would be easy enough for the Holy Spirit to show it to you and dispel it WITHOUT the need for you to raise it to awareness yourself.
There is a complication which you have interposed, which you do not yet realize. You do not realize that no one will support fear, if he recognizes it. But in your disordered state, you are not afraid of fear. You do not like it, but it is NOT your desire to attack which really frightens you. You are NOT seriously disturbed by your hostility. You keep it hidden, because you are more afraid of what it covers.
You are not afraid of crucifixion. Your real terror is of REDEMPTION.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The understanding from this passage of Jesus’ teaching is that there is a profound complexity that we may not have grasp. It’s the realization that fear loses its power once acknowledged. Despite the current state of turmoil, according to ACIM, we are not truly afraid of fear itself. The uneasiness of fear does not stem from hostility or hidden animosity.
From the spiritual plane of thought meaning, we’re told that what is truly unsettling for us is the prospect of facing what lies beneath these layers of defense. The confrontation of the most daunting aspects of the ego would ensue without trepidation if a deeper fear wasn’t harbored within our mind. It’s not the fear of suffering or persecution that’s truly haunting; it’s the fear of transformation and spiritual awakening to our divinity and choice.
Beneath the ego’s shadowy facade lies the dormant memory of our divine essence, and it is this remembrance that instills genuine dread. Yet, the recollection of our inherent connection to the divine would immediately restore us to our rightful place, a place we consciously strayed from. Because of this decision, our deepest terror is not of being crucified but of being redeemed.
In Jesus’ course he says, “You would rather be slaves of the crucifixion, than Sons of God in redemption. Your individual death is more valued than your living Oneness, and what is given you, is not so dear as what you made. You are more afraid of God than of the ego, and love cannot enter where it is not welcome. But hatred CAN, for it enters of its will, and cares not for yours.”
Related: To Be Free is to Be Rid of Fear
