Healthy fear

Monday, November 21, 2016

This will be a three-part meditation based on a passage from the Rule of Saint Benedict:

Live in fear of judgment day and have a great horror of hell.

Yearn for everlasting life with holy desire.

Day by day remind yourself that you are going to die. (RB 4:44-47)

A “cheerful” reflection to begin the week, perhaps, but sobering, to be sure. Notice that the first of these three propositions is one that few people in our contemporary culture would be able to accept, but rather would be easily dismissed. We live in a culture that presumes that everyone is going to make it to heaven; how often do we hear such sentiments expressed during our funeral liturgies, where it seems that the deceased person is already canonized even while we are praying a Mass for the ultimate redemption of his/her soul!

And yet, it pays for us to be rigorously honest with ourselves. Is there not a repository of sins, mistakes and failings in your life that you really need to pray will be judged with a mercy that triumphs over judgment? Can you presume that every sinful thought, word and deed will be quickly glossed over and easily dismissed on judgment day? That is why is makes just so much sense to make the Jesus Prayer a vital part of your regular prayer life: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

He will hear that prayer; it has been promised throughout the psalms:

To you all flesh will come

with its burden of sin.

Too heavy for us, our offences,

but you wipe them away.  (Ps 65:3-4, Old Grail Translation)

It is the Lord who forgives all your sins,

who heals every one of your ills,

who redeems your life from the grave,

who crowns you with love and compassion. (Ps 103:3-5, New Grail Translation)

And so we approach the seat of judgment with holy fear, but also with a hope which has been fortified by our constant study of the Scriptures and of the messages of mercy we receive in our own contemplative prayer.

Reflecting on these things might challenge us to be less judgmental and more patient and merciful to others as they go through their own times of failure, weakness and sinfulness. Reflecting on these things might also equip us to obey the command given in chapter 72 of the Rule to bear with greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior. (RB 72:5)

It is only after we pass through this sobering verse of the Rule, that we might dare to move on to the next line quoted above. More about that tomorrow.

God bless you!