Epiphany is drawing to an end. Lent approaches. It's not too early to begin to reflect upon the meaning of this holy season.
Every year we enter Lent knowing the end of the story – that Jesus will be crucified, die, descend to the dead, and on the third day he will rise from the dead. We also know that Christ says we need not fear (ever), for Christ is with us to the end of the ages. We profess that “in Christ” we have the peace that passes understanding. This is peace centered in the love of God, a perfect love that casts out all fear.
Every year we enter Lent knowing the end of the story – that Jesus will be crucified, die, descend to the dead, and on the third day he will rise from the dead. We also know that Christ says we need not fear (ever), for Christ is with us to the end of the ages. We profess that “in Christ” we have the peace that passes understanding. This is peace centered in the love of God, a perfect love that casts out all fear.
“There
is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with
punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.” 1 John 4:18.
Still, scripture tells us that we are to fear God and that
the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. (Proverbs) Some sources say that the Bible uses the word
fear in reference to God at least 300 times.
We are to fear God, and God is love, and perfect love casts out
fear. It sounds paradoxical, and it is! Our fear of God is trumped by God’s love for
us. The more deeply we acknowledge the
immensity of God, the more we can stand in awe of God and be freed from any
fears that would short circuit the flow of God’s love to us, within us, and
then from us to others in Christ’s name.
What does the
“fear of the Lord” mean to you? What does "perfect love" mean to you?
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