Reverence

 

We should fear God, and we should fear hurting or offending anything created, but we should not be afraid of God. The Bible speaks of the fear of God, but there is a different fear that leads away from God and makes love grow cold. Woe to us if we confuse the right fear with the wrong. Our fear should be born of love and reverence.

When Peter recognized Jesus as the Son of God he said, “Depart from me; I am a sinful man.” He was afraid to be confronted with the purity of Jesus. Such fear is right. But fear that takes away trust and confidence or destroys one’s childlikeness is wrong. We must fear God in the right way.

 John writes that he who has fear is not perfect in love. This has given me much food for thought, because several of the parables of Jesus, like that of the ten virgins, could make one fearful. The Book of Revelation, too, can be frightening. And Jesus says that even though we should not fear men who can kill the body, we should fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. So there is a fear of God that is right and good. Ultimately, if we are in God we will fear nothing but God. That is the perfect state for a Christian.

We have always been reserved in using the name of God, not only because our own inner feeling makes us cautious but because the Ten Commandments say: “You shall not use the name of the Lord your God in vain.” It is important for parents to teach their children to respect God so that misusing his name will not even come into question for them. (Ex. 20:7)

People are so terribly inclined to forget God and his deeds of love. That is the worst thing that can happen to humankind. When no one is interested in God any longer –when no one wants to know about him or testify to him– it is even worse than being hostile toward him, because hostility at least shows an interest. (Lk. 2:25-39)

We should be stimulated by the story of Simeon and Anna, who expected the Messiah on behalf of the whole people of Israel. It does not matter if there are only two –for even then the earth has not entirely forgotten God. We should be eager to testify to him, to love him, and to expect his coming.