When you hear the word fear, negative feelings may come to your mind. You may think of a scary memory or a dangerous experience you’ve had. As human beings, we don't like scary things that invoke fear. So why should you and I fear God? That sounds a little weird, doesn’t it?

The fear of the Lord is commonly misunderstood. In this article, I will take you on a journey to develop a good understanding of what the fear of God means. By the end of it, you will be equipped with guidance to implement the fear of God in your own life.

What Does The Catholic Church Say About Fearing God?

In the catechism of St. Pius X the question "What is fear of the Lord?" is presented. Here’s the answer, "The Fear of the Lord is a gift which makes us respect God and fear to offend His Divine Majesty, and which detaches us from evil while inciting us to good."

This answer reveals the word "fear" in this context means a deep respect and reverential awe for our Creator. We should 'fear' offending God not because of His just punishment, but because He is all good and deserving of our love.

Look at this picture of this mountain (below). Mountains are a majestic creation in nature that we must respect. Any seasoned climber understands that you must respect the mountain because it is more powerful than any human. The weather can change in an instant, an avalanche could occur, and many have died climbing mountains because of this.

Father Ripperger, a Catholic priest known for his sermons on YouTube, says, “Fear of the Lord is a reverential fear or recognition that we are easily capable of offending God by what we do.”

Our Father is the supreme being. We must recognize that we are but creatures in His presence.

He has the ability to render judgment and damn us. Think about that for a second. We must give Him the respect that He deserves.

So how should we act in front of Him?

How Would You Act in The Presence of a King?

Think about this for a second. You are invited to be in the presence of the greatest king on earth. One who rules the most powerful kingdom, leads large armies, and holds a great amount of power and authority.

How would you act in front of this king? Many of us would look at this king with a sense of awe, honor, and reverence. Some of us may even be afraid to do something stupid in front of this king.

With this in mind, how should we present ourselves to THE KING? The one living God who is all-powerful? The one God who created the earth Himself and knows the number of hairs on our heads? He who became man (Jesus Christ), suffered, died, and rose again on the third day.

The Eucharist

I watched this video the other day and loved what Fr. Ripperger says about how we should conduct ourselves before, during, and after communion. I especially appreciated his thoughts on the fear of the Lord.

In the video, Fr. Ripperger discusses the concept of the fear of the Lord in the context of approaching the Holy Eucharist. Here are the key insights regarding the fear of God as explained by him:

• Reverential Fear: The fear of the Lord is described not as a fear of punishment, but as a reverential fear, recognizing the majesty and holiness of God. It's an acknowledgment of our capacity to offend God through our actions, especially in how we approach the Holy Communion.

• Awareness of the Sacred: This fear is rooted in an understanding of the Eucharist's true nature as the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. Recognizing the Eucharist as God Himself necessitates a profound respect and carefulness in how one approaches Communion.

• Handling with Care: Fr. Ripperger likens handling the Eucharist to handling something as delicate and dangerous as nitroglycerin, requiring utmost care and respect due to the potential for grave spiritual consequences in mishandling or approaching the Eucharist unworthily.

• Impact of Attitude: The fear of God influences our attitude towards Mass and the Eucharist. It involves a preparation that respects the holiness of the sacrament, including how one dresses, behaves, and spiritually prepares for Mass.

• Consequences of Carelessness: A lack of reverential fear and careless attitude towards the Eucharist can lead to a withdrawal of God's grace, manifesting in a spiritual decline. This underscores the importance of approaching the Eucharist with a deep sense of reverence and fear of offending God.

• Spiritual Preparation: Fear of the Lord extends to how we prepare ourselves for receiving the Eucharist, encouraging us to seek reconciliation and forgiveness, ensuring we approach in a state of grace, and fostering a mindset that reveres the presence of God in the Eucharist.

In summary, Fr. Ripperger emphasizes that the fear of the Lord is a crucial aspect of our spiritual life, especially in relation to the Eucharist. It is a fear rooted in love and respect for God, prompting us to approach Him with the reverence and awe He rightly deserves.

What Can The Bible Tell Us About Fearing God?

The Bible tells us the story of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament.

The "Ark of the Covenant" is a sacred chest containing the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. According to biblical tradition, it also contained Aaron's rod and a pot of manna. The Ark is considered one of the most significant symbols of God's presence with the people of Israel.

The Ark of the Covenant is found in 2 Samuel 6:1-7 and 1 Chronicles 13:9-12. As the ark was being transported, the ox pulling the cart misstepped and the ark began to tip. A man named Uzzah took hold of the ark. God in His anger, struck Uzzah down and he died instantly.

While this death comes off as extreme, God made it very clear that there were certain instructions on how the ark should handles. The Ark, held the tablets of the commandments and Aarons rod which had miraculous powers. The people disobeyed the Lord. And he showed his might and power.

The ark of the covenant was shown profound reverence. And keep in mind, this was not the presence of God Himself, but a symbol of His presence.

In Proverbs 9:10, the Bible says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Without a humble, profound reverence for who God is, a person will be arrogant and unwilling to turn away from sin.

Growing in Perfect Love for God

As you and I progress in the spiritual life we grow to love our creator more and more. We should not just fear God to be afraid of Him. God does not want us to be afraid of Him. Yet He does demand respect.

We should fear to go against Him because we love Him too much.

Think about someone you love in this world. Maybe it’s your Mom, Dad, Son, Daughter, or a close friend. Imagine doing something that hurt them badly. They told you not to do it, but you did it anyway. And now you must confess to them what you did.

This is how we should feel about God. We should love Him so much that we would not dare to do anything that hurts Him.

In Conclusion

The next time you go to Mass, go to Eucharistic adoration, or kneel down to pray, remember who you are in the presence of.

The same God who created the entire universe.

Having a holy fear of God means that we should approach Him with utmost respect. More respect and honor than any king, queen, leader, or famous celebrity in this world. In the presence of God, every knee shall bow.

Furthermore, we should grow to love Him so much that we fear disrespecting Him or hurting Him in any way.

We live in a world today where many do not even believe in God. I pray that in His presence, even those who do not believe may one day be in awe of His Glory.

I hope this blog post has helped you understand what fearing God means.