The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Jerry Songcog SVD – Antanarivo, Madagascar
Saturday 14th Week in Ordinary Time
“Do not be afraid.” We read these words thrice in today’s Gospel. The disciples should not be afraid of people who will persecute them nor of anyone who could kill the body but not the soul because they have a Father in heaven who takes care of them.
Fears paralyze us from doing great things and realizing our potential. Children of over-protective parents have difficulties hurdling life’s obstacles. The fear of rejection inhibits the formation of relationships. Lovers, who fear future break- ups, preclude any lasting engagement like marriage. In the same way, a Christian, who fears being mocked and ridiculed because of his/her faith will not stand up to Christian beliefs. Christ tells us not to be afraid.
Not all fears, however, should be vanquished, like the fear of the Lord. Jesus said: “Be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in the Gehenna.” He tells us that this God is a Father who takes care of the smallest of His creatures and will surely take care of us, valuing us more than any other.
The fear of the Lord is different from other fears. It is not a product of repulsion, as when one encounters a snarling dog or a hissing snake. It is a fear that surges in us after realizing God’s greatness and our nothingness.
It is a fear born out of awe like the feeling of standing on top of a huge mountain and getting beholden by a breathtaking panorama before one’s eyes. It is a fear that brings forth deep reverence, particularly after realizing how this unfathomable God simply loves me and cares for me in an infinite way. The fear of the Lord is a fear that vanquishes all fears.
