Fear of the Lord

What is fear of the Lord?
Is it a dark and fearsome thing?
Can fear be of hell and damnation?
Is it judgment day for our earthly sins?

What is fear of the Lord?
Recollection of the sins we committed.
Love of God is a vestige of respect
Fostering obedience to his commands.

What is fear of the Lord?
Fear and love are often the same
Love of neighbor as a strong vow
This is why his only begotten Son came.

What is fear of the Lord?
Love for the poor and the needy
Imitation of his Son on Earth
To see his Son in all we meet.

What is the fear of the Lord?
Fear of failure in our journey to God
Failure that impedes our spiritual steps
Not measuring up to his standards.

What is the fear of the Lord?
Is it a dark and fearsome concept?
No, it is love and praise born of light,
Living by God’s commandments always.

By Thomas J. Rillo

(Thomas J. Rillo is a member of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington and a Benedictine oblate of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad.) †

The Criterion