Snakety snakety why do Catholics live in fear?

snakesaredelicious:

The gift of fear of the Lord is sometimes misunderstood because of the
word “fear.” “Fear of the Lord” is not a servile fear whereby a person
serves God simply because he fears punishment, whether some sort of
temporal punishment in this life or the eternal punishment of hell. A
genuine relationship with God is based on love, not fear. Therefore,
this “fear of the Lord” is a filial or reverential fear that moves a
person to do God’s will and avoid sin because of love for God, who is
all good and deserving of all of our love. In a similar way, a child
should not be motivated to obey a parent simply because of fear of
punishment, but because of love and respect; a person who loves someone
does not want to disappoint or to break the other person’s heart. One
should fear hurting a loved one and violating that person’s trust more
than one should fear punishment. Nevertheless, one should have a healthy
sense of fear for the punishment due to sin, including the fires of
hell, even though this should not be the motivating factor for loving God.

Therefore, this gift motivates the person in three ways: first, to
have a vivid sense of God’s infinite greatness; second, to have a real
sorrow for sin, even venial sins, and to do penance to atone for sins
committed; and third, to be vigilant to avoid the near occasions of sin,
to struggle against personal weakness and fight temptation.

The gift of fear brings to perfection the virtue of hope. A person
respects God as God, trusts in His will, and anchors his life in Him. He
approaches the Lord with humility, docility and obedience. He believes
in His promises of forgiveness of sin and eternal life in heaven. Also,
this gift is the launchpad for the other gifts. As sacred Scripture
attests, “Happy the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His
commands” (Ps 112:1), and “the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord”
(Sir 1:12).

This gift also perfects the virtue of temperance, which seeks to use
all things wisely and in moderation, neither in excess nor in defect,
especially those sensible pleasures. With reason enlightened by faith,
temperance controls the passions. Temperance is related to the gift of
fear because one’s respect for God, and one’s awareness of being made in
His image and likeness, and being redeemed by Christ motivate a person
to give glory to God by being temperate in actions and desires, not
using, doing, or indulging in anything to excess or defect. For example,
chastity is a virtue of temperance, which respects the goodness of
one’s own sexuality, the sanctity of marriage and the sanctity of
marital love. A person moved by the gift of fear strives to live a
chaste life because God is the creator of these goods, and a chaste life
gives glory and praise to Him.

This gift also prevents us from being too familiar with God. We are
the victims of original sin and suffer from concupiscence; therefore,
each of us struggles with a rebellious heart. A person could easily take
God’s love for granted and presume forgiveness without real contrition;
or forget God’s majesty by taking His holy name in vain; or make
demands of God and then be angry when He does not meet them; or forget
that every gift is from God and be selfish; or neglect prayer and
worship because there is not enough time for Him; or disregard God’s
commandments and the teachings of His church. And without fear of the
Lord, such a person might say, “God loves me just the way I am, and I am
going to heaven.” One has to ask, “Does such a person really love God?”
While the Lord will never spurn a humble and contrite heart, He will
humble the haughty.

A good way to cultivate this gift is through daily prayer and worship
at Mass. Regular and careful examinations of conscience also are
important, as well as the regular use of the sacrament of penance. Also,
meditating on the infinite majesty of God, like gazing upon the icon of
Christ Pantocrator. For myself, looking at the beautiful mosaic of
Christ in Majesty at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception in Washington reminds me not only that I am simply
a lowly creature who needs God’s mercy, but also I am a child who is
loved by the Lord.