Filial and Servile Fear
1. We should not be afraid of God,
because He is our greatest benefactor and loves us infinitely. When we
are lost, He searches for us as a loving father would search for a
wandering son. Because they think only of the majesty and justice of
God, some people keep themselves at a distance from Him, as Adam did
after he had sinned. They forget that the Lord told Adam, the sinner, of
the coming of the pardoning Redeemer. (Gen. 3:9) Bossuet truly observes
that “after the curse which came upon men through sin there has always
remained in their hearts a certain dread of the supernatural which
prevents them from approaching God with confidence.” Jansenism increased
this fear, emphasising the justice and majesty of God rather than the
infinite love of Jesus and the beauty of His teaching.
Some
writers compare our souls with the divine majesty and justice in order
to stress our unworthiness, but they forget that Jesus is “meek and
humble of heart,” that He forgave the penitent Magdalen, the adulteress,
and the good thief, and had kind words for the lost sheep and the
prodigal son. They never think of the wonderful words of the beloved
disciple: “God is love.” (1 John 4:16)
This false fear of God
dries up our piety, and lessens our trust in His mercy. It can lead to
moroseness, to scrupulosity, and to discouragement.
We should
avoid this excessive fear which separates us from God. Even though we
are sinful and unworthy, we should remember that God is our loving
Father, Who is always ready to help us and to grant us forgiveness. We
should recall, moreover, that out of love for us He did not spare His
own Son, (Cf. Rom. 8:32) but gave Him to us for our redemption. If Jesus
shed His blood and died for us, how can we doubt His love?
2. It
is true that the fear of God is recommended many times in Sacred
Scripture, but it is filial fear which is intended, not servile fear.
Servile fear keeps us apart from God. But filial fear is akin to love
and brings us closer to Him. We should desire never to offend God
because we love Him, not because we fear Him. When one loves another
with all one’s heart, it is nearly impossible to offend him. In this
sense “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” (Prov. 1:7)
and therefore of sanctity. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit which
produces in us a complete and loving submission to God, our Father, and
keeps us far from sin because it is displeasing to Him.
This
filial fear is pleasing to God, for “he fulfils the desire of those who
fear him, he hears their cry and saves them.” (Ps. 144:19)
“Love
therefore,” writes St. Paul, “is the fulfilment of the law.” (Rom.
13:10) We should certainly fear God, but above all we should love Him.
If we love Him, we shall be glad to keep His commandments and we shall
have great spiritual peace and contentment.
3. “O Jesus, My King,
my friend and the love of my soul, take possession of it. I consecrate
it entirely to You. Your majesty inspires fear, but to a far greater
degree Your goodness inspires love. You are my King and You shall always
be my only love. If I have any fear, it will be the fear of displeasing
You. O Mary, my Queen, obtain for me the grace to be faithful to my
beloved King.” (St. Alphonsus de Ligouri)
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