Question about fear

[vash88]

Not sure how many of you use the my catholic life app (or read the site), but today’s Divine Mercy reflection was about perfect contrition. And in it, it mentions that if you react to the realization of your sin in fear of punishment, then your love of God is lacking. But doesn’t that warning incite fear, especially to those who already fear punishment? So if someone does react to their sin in fear of punishment, what exactly should they do, since their contrition is obviously imperfect. I’ve always heard God can “work with” imperfect contrition and that maybe someone who dies in a state of imperfect contrition will go to purgatory, but there’s no assurance of that, the way someone with perfect contrition has assurance of Heaven.

Here’s a link to the web version of the page, for reference: divinemercy.life/2017/05/09/reflection-165-the-perfect-contrition/ (I recommend the app by the way, on an unrelated note)

 

[USMC_Convert]

Fear is a useful tool, and by having a healthy fear of God and hell you will keep yourself on the right path. One of our Saints used to say that preaching about hell is an effective and recommended way to keep people in the right place (not a quote).

However, what we are aiming for, perfect contrition, is being so sorry for your sins because you are that upset over offending God, so sorry that you have hurt Him.

In other words if you hurt your wife in some way, and you were sorry because you knew she were going to yell at you about it that would be one thing, but if you were so sorry just because you would never want to ever hurt her because you love her so much, that’s something else!

Think of your relationship with God like a marriage and that should guide you…

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Not sure how many of you use the my catholic life app (or read the site), but today’s Divine Mercy reflection was about perfect contrition. And in it, it mentions that if you react to the realization of your sin in fear of punishment, then your love of God is lacking. But doesn’t that warning incite fear, especially to those who already fear punishment? So if someone does react to their sin in fear of punishment, what exactly should they do, since their contrition is obviously imperfect. I’ve always heard God can “work with” imperfect contrition and that maybe someone who dies in a state of imperfect contrition will go to purgatory, but there’s no assurance of that, the way someone with perfect contrition has assurance of Heaven.

Here’s a link to the web version of the page, for reference: divinemercy.life/2017/05/09/reflection-165-the-perfect-contrition/ (I recommend the app by the way, on an unrelated note)

It’s a process. I don’t know exactly how it starts, but the Gospels say: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him…”

After we have been drawn, I think that agape is also a grace from God that requires a movement on our part first. To start with, understand/identify what is holding you back. Then make a sincere effort to drop whatever it is that is holding you back; it is usually some kind of interior disbelief:* “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.” *

Jesus will help you do the rest: *“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,” *

These three italicized quotes are from John 6. John chapter 6 goes much deeper than being a discourse on the Eucharist. Of course, the Eucharist is so much more than it appears to be. I wonder if we can even fathom it.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

I did a Bible search about the fear of the Lord, there were 82 passages, here are just a few…

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Leviticus 25:17
Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Psalm 33:8
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.

Psalm 36:1
I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Psalm 128:1
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.

Proverbs 16:6
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.

Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.