Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash
By Chris Sparks
Recently, I encountered some Catholics online who attempted to argue that they had legitimate grounds for living in fear. After all, they said, it’s legitimate to fear for endangered souls! The times are evil; the world, the flesh, and the devil are attacking. The Church is beset. We have a just and prudent fear!
Yet, the truth of the matter is that we are permitted as Christians to only have one kind of fear: fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (see Prov 9:10) — but only the beginning. The end of wisdom, the goal of wisdom, is God Himself, who comes to us as Jesus, the Savior of mankind. Someday, He shall appear as the Just Judge, the One empowered to condemn us. But right now is the time of mercy. Now, we are to say, and to live, “Jesus, I trust in You!”
Though faith and wisdom may begin in fear of the Lord, as we live the Christian life, we shall soon find fear passing away.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. … There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. (1 Jn 4:16-18)
Love of the Lord (who is Love) is the end, the goal, of wisdom. Love of the Lord is the first and greatest commandment, and since perfect love drives out fear, Christians are called to courage, to take heart.
As we can see from the whole arc of salvation history, fear of the Lord sets us on the right path at the outset. Look at the Old Testament, at how fear of the Lord emerges in Adam and Eve after their first sin. We can tell from their experience how fear of the Lord awaits for us at the beginning of the journey home to God. Fear of the Lord orients us, lets us know where true power comes from, what justice looks like. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom because it helps us cease to be afraid of the world, the flesh, and the devil, for all of these are powerless next to the Lord, the Creator.
Fear of the Lord ends all other kinds of fear. No, we are not called to live in fear of damnation, or in fear of the loss of souls, or in fear of the evil intentions of the great and powerful. Because we have been taught wisdom by the fear of the Lord, we know with certainty that “In his hand is the soul of every living thing, and the life breath of all mortal flesh” (Job 12:10). Each and every one of us is held in existence from moment to moment by God’s love and remembrance of us.
Because of that certainty, we know our God is mighty to save. And as fear of the Lord teaches us trust, fear fades. Love and loyalty take its place. And love of the Lord leads us to love what and whom the Lord loves, as well.
We are called to love our enemy, to pray for those with evil in their hearts (Mt 5:43-48). We are summoned to trust in Jesus, and to bring the Divine Mercy to the world by shining the light of those rays before all humankind, by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, by making the Sacraments available to all the nations.
We are meant to be children of God the Father. We are to share the endless treasure won for us by Jesus, the Divine Mercy Incarnate. We are blessed with an infinite inheritance, sent forth by the Lord of the harvest to bring in all souls, to share these gifts with everyone, and no one shall lack for anything, for God Himself is the treasure.
Listen to St. John Paul II: “Be not afraid!” Listen to saints down through the ages, who confronted the world, the flesh, and the devil with an impossible, world-changing fearlessness. Listen to St. Faustina, who wrestled with fear throughout her Diary till she could calmly confront anything, any cross, any attack of the devil, with coolness and without fear.
Love endures everything, love is stronger than death, love fears nothing ... (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 46)
We shall be helped along that path from fear of the Lord to perfect love by Our Lady and St. Joseph, our mother and father in the spiritual life (see Diary, 11 and 1203).
So let us refuse to live in fear of anyone or anything, replacing fear with love in imitation of Mary, Joseph, and all the saints. Let us ask their intercession to help us along the way, and to overcome every attack of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Let us turn again to God who is Love, who is Divine Mercy, and ask Him to replace fear in our hearts with Himself. Let us recommit ourselves to loving our enemies, praying for them, and refusing to fear them.
