Be afraid, but only of God who judges justly…
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Gift: Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe) – With the gift of wonder and awe (fear of the lord), we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love.
Reading: I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna;* yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?* Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:4-7)
Observation: Jesus starts out telling us to only be afraid of the one who judges with all righteousness, and then end today’s gospel reading saying that he knows even the hairs on our head and we should not be afraid. To me, Jesus is saying that if we surrender all that we have and all that we are to the one who made us, we do not have anything to fear. It is only when we act on our own, without the guidance of the holy Spirit, that we are subject to punishment from God. In some cases, it could mean that we are subject to earthly authority that disagrees with God, but we know that God will protect us.
Personification: Self-Control As my Twitter friend, Father Mabura, posted a couple of days ago; it is only when we take our eyes off God, that we are tempted to stray from his will. I will stay focused on God, to make sure that his will is being done in my life. I know no better way to display the fruit of self-control in my life, than to make sure that I am focused on God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. I ask this, as always, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit. Amen.
