Word to the Wise
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 - Wednesday after Epiphany, or Jan. 9
[1 John 4:11-18 and Mark 6:45-52]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 John]
The one thing that God says the most to us in the Bible is: "Do not be afraid!" Yet St. Paul says to us in Philippians 2:12 that we should work out our salvation in "fear and trembling." We speak of one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit as "fear of the Lord." The traditional Act of Contrition includes the lines, "Because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell..." in addition to the love we owe to God. The emphasis, even if the composers of the prayer didn't mean it, seems so often to be on fear of God and not love of neighbor Popular parlance uses phrases like, "I put the fear of God in him/her." Or, "God will get you for that."
The Letter of John this morning and tomorrow links the love of God and love of neighbor in such a way that we cannot claim to love God if we do not love our neighbor! The Sacrament of Reconciliation is often seen as settling matters between the penitent and God, but not necessarily between penitent and neighbor!!
When the most important relationships in life become characterized more by bonds of fear than by bonds of love, the love of God becomes distorted and destructive. Love of God and love of neighbor are united in one act which can fill out lives. It is when we fear our neighbor, whether it be a family member, spouse, child or any class of people of a different race, gender or political persuasion that we erode our love of God. Keeping the love of God and of neighbor together is the primary challenge of Christian life. AMEN