Did you ever notice that, in the Bible, it seems like anytime angels make themselves known to a human, the first words they say are, “Fear not.” That doesn’t strike me as a very realistic expectation. A little fear in the face of this strange and divine presence is not uncalled for. Just don’t be bound by that fear.
This reading, best done by a single voice, is how I imagine one of those angels trying to explain all that to a very befuddled and bemused human (which could be any one of us).
The full text of this reading is below, and is in a PDF document with much better formatting.
Be not afraid.
…Well, be afraid,
sometimes,
but don’t act on it.
Well, act on it,
sometimes,
but in a way that builds up,
and if you need to protect yourself, then do so, but ask yourself, do I really need to do so?
…and at what cost to others?
Fear not.
…Well, yes,
sometimes,
it’s prudent to fear.
Be not fearful, live not from a place of fear, live in the face of your fear.
(Heavenly messengers are given only brief sound bites.)
Fear not.
I trust this is all clear?