Sunday 19A. "Earth, Wind or Fire?": God is not found in fear of what He has made but through Faith, a holy fear of the One who made everything

There are so many fears: of heights or depths, of close spaces or open spaces, of crowds or loneliness. There are almost as many kinds of fear as there are people. Some fears can be debilitating and require years of therapy or are kept manageable only through medication and close supervision.

What do you fear? If you are like most people you probably have a very deep respect for the powers of nature, such as the earth, wind and fire. In the case of these fear can be a very good thing because it can save our lives. The powers of nature threaten us with death and perhaps we sometimes are fearful because we suspect we may not be ready to meet God and are afraid of punishment.

"The practice of the moral life animated by charity gives to the Christian the spiritual freedom of the children of God. He no longer stands before God as a slave, in servile fear, or as a mercenary looking for wages, but as a son responding to the love of him who 'first loved us':If we turn away from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of slaves. If we pursue the enticement of wages, . . . we resemble mercenaries. Finally if we obey for the sake of the good itself and out of love for him who commands . . . we are in the position of children." (CCC 1828)

For the full text of the homily for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, click here to visit Meeting Christ in the Liturgy.