Holy Fear
Fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
for nought is lacking to those who fear him. (Ps 34-10)
“Fear the Lord.” When I was growing up, I never understood that. It seemed like we were being given a double-message. Love God, do not be afraid; but, fear Him as well.
I could not reconcile those concepts.
How could you be unafraid but still fear? To answer that question, enter Bishop Grutka.
I remember him speaking to our class in the cafeteria before going to the church for our confirmation. He said that we should have a holy fear of the Lord. “Fear”, he said, was not the same as “fright”. Rather, he spoke about it in the context of love.
If someone loves another person, his or her greatest fear is that he or she will hurt the one who is loved. There is no greater dread than hurting a loved one.
And there is no greater good, no greater love, than God. Therefore, if we love the Lord our God with our whole heart, we will never want to hurt Him.
Therein lies holy fear.
The psalmist encouraged his people to fear the Lord and follow His ways exactly. In embracing and living the commandments, they would not have to worry about hurting their Lord.
Let us do the same this day.
FAITH ACTION: Do all that you can today — by word and deed — to show the lord that you love Him.