This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
·2 Timothy 4:17 – Live as a fearless
witness. “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so
that the message might be preached fully through me…”
·Psalm 125:1-2 – Live fearless
because you are surrounded by God. “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which
cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so
the Lord surrounds His people, from this time forth and forever.”
·1 Timothy 6:11-12 – Fight the good fight
of faith fearlessly. “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good
fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and have
confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
·John 16:13-14 – Live fearlessly guided by the
Spirit. “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He
will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but
whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will
glorify me, for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you.”
·Isaiah 45:3 – Live fearlessly called by
God. “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden
wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God
of Israel, who calls you by your name.”
·Philippians 1:6 – Live fearlessly finishing
the work of Christ. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who
began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
·Psalm 40:2 – Fearlessly walk along the path
God has established. “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of
the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.”
·Isaiah 44:8 – Live fearlessly trusting God as
your Rock. “Do not fear nor be afraid. Have I not told you from
that time, and declared it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me?
Indeed, there is not other Rock; I know not one.”
·Psalm 91:4-5 – Live fearlessly under the
provision of God. “He shall cover you with His feathers and under His
wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler, you
shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by
day.”
·1 Corinthians 16:13-14 – Be strong –
fearlessly. “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Let all that you do be done with love.” When you believe in truth and remember
the promises of God, fear takes a back seat. Sure, it’s a
process. And sure, you’re still human so fear may not totally be gone until the
glory days in the kingdom. But work on believing. Work on trusting. Work on
hiding these words in your heart so that the impact of Christ is greater
than your fear.
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (CNS) -- A total solar eclipse is a rare event, something
to appreciate and enjoy in the mind of Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, director
of the Vatican Observatory. So as the first eclipse crossed the country from
coast to coast in 99 years Aug. 21, Brother Consolmagno wasn't going to do
anything but take it in and think about the beauty and mystery of God's
creation. The astronomer urged an audience in a packed Sts. Peter and Paul
Church during a pre-eclipse program in this southwestern Kentucky town near the
point of maximum eclipse to take the time to reflect on what the two minutes
and 40 seconds of totality means to them. "Pray for good weather," he
said to laughs. "But also pray for what God wants you to learn from the
experience." Tens of thousands of people had descended on Hopkinsville, a
city of 33,000 an hour northwest of Nashville, Tennessee, by late Aug. 20.
Thousands more were expected the morning of the eclipse. Brother Consolmagno
said he was as excited as anyone to view the blackening of the sun. He also
said that as a scientist and a person of faith, he is guided by inquisitiveness
to explore the heavens and the desire to better understand how God put the
universe together. There is no conflict between science and the faith, he said.
"Being a scientist can be a way of worshipping God," he said. He
repeated a similar message to reporters during a news conference before his
presentation. "We're here not just to remind my fellow scientists who are
used to me by now, but also to show religious people how important is it to be able to praise the Creator by studying
creation, studying it honestly, finding out how God really created this place.
There's never going to be a shortage of marvels for us to discover or surprises
for us to experience," he said. "We can come to know the Creator by
seeing the things of his creation." He said the by understanding the cycle
of solar eclipses -- occurring about every 18 months and 11 days -- people can
see the rhythms of the universe and the continuing nature of creation and have
an experience "that fills the soul with joy." Brother Consolmagno
made the trip to Hopkinsville at the invitation of Father Richard Meredith,
pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church. Father Meredith told Catholic News
Service he contacted the Vatican Observatory soon after he learned a few years
ago that the eclipse path would pass over the town. Parishioners prepared for
more than a year, having established a committee to welcome visitors and host
Brother Consolmagno. "Being a
parish with a parochial school, we stress the unity of truth," Father
Meredith said. "This (eclipse) is a major opportunity to reflect that, as
science and faith work together serving to manifest the Lord. The eclipse is a
wonder and these wonders praise the creator. This could very well be the only
planet around the only star whose moon is at the right distance and size to
give a total solar eclipse," the priest said. He introduced Brother
Consolmagno with by reading from Psalm 19: "The heavens proclaim the glory
of God; the sky proclaims its builder's craft." "This isn't only
Catholic," he told CNS. "This is a tradition inherited from God's
revelation in the Old Testament."
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