Day 21

So, what is the antidote for not fearing those who can kill the body, as Jesus tells us today? In recovery, we learn that it is having a spiritual awakening. We need a paradigm shift to turn from self-protective fear to trust in an all-powerful God. As we read in Proverbs 9:10, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” Before we can understand how the fear of the Lord leads to wisdom, we need to define what the Bible means by “fear” in this context. In the Bible, the word translated as “fear” can mean several things. It can refer to the terror one feels in a frightening situation (Deuteronomy 2:25). It can mean “respect” in the way a servant fears his master and serves him faithfully (Joshua 24:14). And it can denote the reverence or awe a person feels in the presence of greatness (Isaiah 6:5). The fear of the Lord is a combination of all of these.  

Jesus wants us to place all our trust in Him without self-protective fear. He revealed His merciful love in complete self-giving on the cross. This same love remains with us through the power of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments. The Eucharist is perfect love, and we know from Saint John that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). While receiving this grace is “free,” we must remember that it came with the greatest cost of Jesus’ life. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass reminds us of this. Jesus wants us to inherit His Kingdom, while also accepting that doing so carries with it a great responsibility. We hold the truth that, while Jesus is the Lamb of God, merciful and gentle, He is also the Lion of Judah, the just and righteous judge.

Reflection Questions

• How do you guard against living out of self-protective fear? What can you do to help ensure you don’t fall into self-protective fear today?
• How would you describe your personal spiritual awakening?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Ephesians 1:11-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13
Gospel: Luke 12:1-7

Reflection by Stephanie N.

(1647-1690) — The “Apostle of the Sacred Heart” was a serious child born and raised in eastern France. Her father died when she was eight, and she suffered four years of paralysis from rheumatic fever, vowing to enter religious life when miraculously healed by the Blessed Virgin Mary. At 17, after forgetting her vow and considering marriage by attending a ball, she had a vision of Jesus, scourged and bloody. She shortly thereafter joined the Order of the Visitation. Margaret received several visions of Jesus regarding devotion to His Sacred Heart that many dismissed as delusions, but she was supported and encouraged by her spiritual director, Saint Claude de la Colombiere.

Jesus made 12 promises to Saint Margaret for those who honor His Sacred Heart. Look them up. How can these promises apply to your recovery?

“Be humble towards God and gentle with your neighbor. Judge and accuse no one but yourself, and ever excuse others. Speak of God always to praise and glorify Him, speak of your neighbor only with respect — do not speak of yourself at all, either well or ill” (Saint Margaret Mary Alocoque).

Reflection by Brad Farmer