Christmas weekday
(I John 4:11-18; Mark 6:45-52)
“Are we to fear God?” the man asked the priest after
mass. When the priest gave a qualified
“yes,” the man walked away disappointed.
“Why would one fear God who loves him or her so much that He gave the
world His Son?” the man seemed to be asking in his retreat. The first reading today casts some light on
the question.
Implying that fear of God is natural, John writes, “…perfect
love drives out fear.” In the beginning fear
reigns because the force that created the stars and the mind that designed the human
brain compel awe with accompanying fear and trembling. But in Jesus Christ God has revealed Himself
to be tenderer than a happy mother toward her child. To the extent that one accepts Christ’s
revelation, he or she no longer need fear God but can delight in His favor. The person then imitates God in His love for
others.
Of course, faith sometimes wanes. We don’t necessarily lapse into fear but replace
as our heart’s desire the God created us with a poor substitute – most often, fun,
fame, or fortune. We no longer imitate
God’s tenderness but become hardened in our pursuit of satisfaction. For this reason the Church retells the story
of God’s love every year with Christmas.
