Fear of God

Fear keeps us away from God. We resist his graces and his invitations to intimacy. We shun establishing a relationship with God and with others. We need to remember that intimacy with God leads to the desire to be of service to others. It gives us courage to confront unjust structures and powers-that-be just as Jesus did.

The seeker: I am scared to go to the missions. There are rumours that the fundamentalists are planning to kill all the missionaries and rape the nuns.

The guide: Fear seems to control your life.

The seeker: I don’t want to be raped and to die...

The guide: Jesus too did‘ not want to die on the cross.

The seeker: I’m not Jesus.

The guide: You are his close follower. You have surrendered yourself to his service. Spend some days in deepening your love for him. Fear is overcome by participating in the passion and death of Jesus. This can be done through meditation or by contemplation on the last days of Jesus’ earthly life.

The seeker: The Holy Spirit came upon the frightened disciples of Jesus and they spoke boldly and were even ready to die for their faith in Jesus Christ.

The guide: That can happen also to you. Reading Matthew 6:25-34 may help you.