Hermitage Notes - Fear And Its Antidote

Fear.

It is hard to not see it in the eyes of people. It is hard to not sense it working to make these times more difficult than they already are.

Going into this season, I made a commitment to learn and grow through it rather than wrestle and fight against it. If going through this hard season holds no profit of conversatio morum [conversion of life] for me as a student of Saint Benedict, then the going through is marred with futility. I will dare to say that this same principle holds true for all who consider themselves to be followers of Christ. If there is no spiritual growth, no deepening steps in maturing into the image of Christ, then the going has been in vain.

I am reminded of something that Abba Moses said in response to a monk who came seeking his advice about living in the isolation that was part of the life of hermits in the desert. Abba Moses told him, "Sit in your cell and your cell will teach you everything."

Abba's advice is not far removed from what our Father Abbot Benedict tells those who come to him inquiring of his school. Saint Benedict says, "Listen carefully, my son, to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart."

There are some things that I have to continually remind myself of as an Oblate of Saint Benedict; especially in light of the reality that there is no real end in sight for this Covid-19 season that is affecting all of us in one way or another.

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Fear is a terrible taskmaster. 

It is the antithesis of faith, the enemy of hope, and is efficient at begetting anger, hatred, aggression and a host of other selfish emotional responses.  

Fear is the multi-faceted fruit of the fallen nature of humanity. One of its facets is an indication of rebellion against God’s revealed will.

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’  [Genesis 3:8-10]

Fear is the base upon which human pride and arrogance perform their vicious soul-destroying works. [I am afraid. Therefore, I will promote my betterment even to the detriment and degradation of others.] How many ways does this truism find application in the modern world?

Fear is Satan’s work.

Love is the only effective antidote and remedy for fear and its fruit.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. 

[1 John 4:18]

It is to this end [love] that we are called as followers of Jesus.

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadduccees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.  [Matthew 22:34-40]

The whole heart?

As myself?

How easy it is to defend ourselves where the commandment to love is concerned. How easy it is to justify ourselves and make excuses for choosing lesser standards that require less of us. How easy it is to attempt rationalizing and qualifying who is worthy to merit our love despite the obvious implications found in The Parable of the Good Samaritan [Luke 10:25-37].

Who is this Lord who calls us to love even [especially] those who are our persecutors and enemies?

You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  [Matthew 5:43-48].

Who is this Lord?

He is our Lord.

This same unchanging Lord is with us as we stumble our way through this season. He will be with us on the other side of it regardless of what the other side of it looks like.

Saint Benedict, and all the Saints, pray for me.