One of the virtues we should work to build in our lives is the fear of God. This fear doesn’t mean feeling scared or terrified of Him. It means showing Him deep respect. Just as people honor a king or a ruler of a country, we should honor Jesus as the true King of all nations.
We strengthen this virtue by showing greater respect and reverence for Jesus. Our behavior in a Catholic church should not mirror how we act in a movie theater. Even if we attend a concert in a church, we should still recognize the holiness of the place. I have visited many Catholic churches, and some celebrate very reverent Masses while others make me feel uneasy. The reverent ones make me feel that something sacred is happening. The others make it harder to see the church as anything different from any other gathering place in town.
Obedience also helps us grow in the fear of God. When I respect someone, I listen to them and try to follow what they ask of me. Jesus gave us clear guidance on how to live. We will never be perfect, but we must ask ourselves whether we truly strive to follow Him or if we simply ignore Him.
We should also keep working to detach ourselves from evil. This connects to respect and obedience because if we love someone, we avoid actions that hurt or offend them. I cannot support both a local pro life clinic and an abortion clinic at the same time. I cannot claim to love my wife and still look at other women with lust. We must remove everything that keeps us from growing closer to God.
When we sin, the sacrament of reconciliation offers us guaranteed forgiveness. God forgives us even when we only have imperfect contrition and feel sorry mainly out of fear of punishment, judgement, or Hell. Many times, fear can actually help keep us on the path that leads to Heaven.
Work to increase your reverence and respect for God. Listen to what He asks of you and follow through. Keep striving to detach yourself from sin and remove every stumbling block in your life. As you do this, your relationship with God will grow in powerful and unexpected ways.
