What is your greatest fear in life? Whom do you fear the most? What is God telling you about your fears now? Pray and try to memorize Psalm 91 - Daily Reflections April 21,2014

DO NOT BE AFRAID   The Bible speaks of two kinds of fear: the holy fear of God, and fear of the works and consequences of evil and brokenness in the world. Of the fear of the Lord, Psalm 19:9 says: “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.” The holy fear of the Lord keeps us faithful to Him and His commands, and it leads us to always stand before Him in worship, in awe, and in adoration. It is fear that accompanies our encounter with God’s glory. This fear then is healthy and positive. The Mosaic teaching goes: What the Lord God asks is “to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul...” (Deuteronomy 10:12). Perhaps this holy fear is what the women first experienced as they saw the empty tomb and were greeted by an angel who explained the resurrection to them. Hence, their fear was also with joyfulness.        As regards the other kind of fear — the one that may come as we face the ugly works of evil — the Psalmist (23:4; 91:5) tells us: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil...” and “You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.” Now, this other fear challenged the women and the other disciples as they faced the detractors of Jesus and the guards who spread around their ill-intentioned stories and insinuations. Here, the words of Jesus Himself are clear: “Fear not.”        We note that after the resurrection — and more so, after the Risen Lord sent the Holy Spirit in Pentecost — the followers and believers of Jesus were transformed into bold witnesses and were unswayed in their conviction. Peter would stand before the Jewish leaders and declare: “We must obey God rather than men!” (cf Acts 5:29) Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is your greatest fear in life? Whom do you fear the most? What is God telling you about your fears now? Pray and try to memorize Psalm 91.   Embolden me, Lord, so that I may not fear witnessing for You and proclaiming Your Word to the world.