the right fear
“Do not be afraid.” —Luke 5:10
Simon Peter fell at the feet of Jesus and said: “Leave me, Lord. I am a sinful man” (Lk 5:8). He encountered the awesome power of Jesus in the miraculous catch of fish and, filled with “the fear of the Lord,” acknowledged Him as “Lord.”
A faithful Jew, St. Peter knew that to see the face of the Lord was to die (see Ex 33:20; Jgs 13:22). Even setting foot on the holy mountain or touching the Ark of the Covenant was to immediately die (Ex 19:12; 2 Sm 6:6-7). So Jesus had to encourage Peter to not be afraid (Lk 5:10).
The untouchable, almighty God became man in Jesus, and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14). Jesus encouraged us to love Him, touch Him, and even receive His Body into our own bodies in the Holy Eucharist. The fear of death at encountering the Lord was displaced by a newfound comfort in the Lord’s presence, encouraged by the Lord Himself, Who repeatedly told us to “not be afraid.”
The fear of the Lord is an awesome, reverential sense of God’s presence, one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Is 11:2-3). In the present day, that fear of the Lord is seemingly lacking, and yet is a gift much needed, for “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps 111:10). Beg God for the gift of fear of the Lord.
Prayer: Father, I bow before You and give You my entire life. Use me as You will.
Promise: “By the might of His glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come.” —Col 1:11
Praise: “By the might of His glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come.” —Col 1:11
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period August 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 4, 2023
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