Why are we afraid?

On Saturday, the first reading from Acts 4:13-21 tells us how the religious authorities in Jerusalem forbade Peter and John to teach in the name of Jesus. When they reply that they cannot stop proclaiming what they have seen and heard, the high priest and his supporters became more angry and this time imprison all the apostles, (Acts 5:17-26). Why are people so afraid of the truth that Jesus taught? John explains in 3:16-21, that through Jesus light has come into the world, but those who do evil hate the light for fear that their actions will be exposed. ''The Lord hears the voice of the poor'' (psalm 34), and this is why the rich and powerful are so opposed to that teaching. It undermines their false authority. Mary's song of praise at the Visitation, the Magnificat, was banned by oppresive governments in India, under British rule , Guatemala and Argentina, under military dictatorships, because it was considered to be revolutionary and subversive. Some evangelical churches have even deleted the lines, ''He has brought down the powerful from their thrones. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.'' If the central message of the mission of Jesus is considered to be revolutionary, then we are all called to be revolutionaries striving to overcome injustice, hate and discrimination wherever they exist.