Episode 1418: Are we faithful because we fear?

Do we not sin because fear our lord or love our lord?Show more

True and Filial Fear: St. John Vianney emphasized the importance of having a true and filial fear of the Lord. He distinguished between a servile fear (fear of punishment) and a filial fear (reverential fear rooted in love and respect for God as a Father). He taught that a filial fear of the Lord helps believers grow in holiness and draw closer to God.

So, when I am judged I truly hope Christ says to me “Welcome you good and faithful Servant” and “I never knew you; depart from me,"
I was talking to a friend about how if I fall into the state of mortal sin I rush off to get back to sanctifying grace because I fear remaining in and separated from Christ. Yet why was I not thinking that way when I fell into mortal sin? Or maybe the bigger question is to fear our Lord or love our Lord and that is why I do not want to offend him and thus fall into a state of mortal sin in which he can not look upon me.
Well that question actually presupposes several things.
First, as a Catholic we believe that once we fall into the state of mortal sin Christ can neither look upon us nor can any graces have provided us. Did you know that? The modern Catholic Church no longer teaches that but instead they preach Christs mercy. Well it is true Christ is merciful BUT he is first and foremost Just. Christ can never be anything but the truth and so since we are not at Christs level we do not tell him the way things will be but rather he tells us. So when we sin mortally and its called a mortal sin because mortal equal death or to kill. We kill our soul and we do it intentionally. We are saying to Christ “Yes I know I am being or going to commit a sin but just give me a break. That is called the sin of presumption. We are presuming Christs forgiveness.
Let me really bring this thought home. I was speaking to a sibling that left the faith and she said that the Holy Spirit speaks to her through scripture. I said that is not possible because you are in the state of mortal sin and the Holy Spirit does even see you let alone speak to you.
Now what is telling is that prior to VII that was a doctrine and precept of the faith. Then VII came in and said not really. Well on the drive back from the lunch I was having with my sibling and my mom, my mom said she didn’t want to interrupt me because she knew my intention was to get my sibling back to the faith BUT she needed to correct me in that Christ and the Holy Spirit never pull back their graces. Wow my mom was raised in the traditional faith and yet since she has been practicing the modern faith for the past 55 years she lost something. She lost knowing the truth.
Second, what did Christ mean when he said, "I never knew you; depart from me" (Matthew 7:23)? He was emphasizing several key points:

Faithful Relationship with Him:
Today the modern Catholic Church teaches that a personal and authentic relationship with Christ is essential for salvation. But they are missing a HUGE point. There can be no relationship with Christ when he cannot even look upon you. The passage underscores those mere external religious practices, no matter how impressive they may seem, are insufficient if they do not flow from a heart united to Christ in faith, love, and obedience. But also know that when you sin you often and you must stop offending or otherwise you are dead in the water, and he will never know you.

Salvation through Grace and Works: Catholic theology emphasizes the concept of "faith and works." While salvation is a gift of God's grace, it also involves human cooperation with that grace. The Catholic Church teaches that faith must be accompanied by good works, reflecting a transformed heart and a life lived in accordance with God's will. God’s will not ours. So when we fall intentionally into sin we do our will and not Gods will and do to his justice never will know us because he can’t look upon sin. You will hear priests today say that communion is meant for the sinners. Well, it is very true but if they do not remove themselves from the sin it is not meant for them. Christs mercy comes after his justice and your contrition.

Obedience to God's Will: Similar to the broader Catholic interpretation, the Catholic Church emphasizes the importance of living in obedience to God's will. Obedience is a reflection of not only genuine faith and a response to God's love and grace but fear of losing Christ. For example, you will hear Catholics say today that:
1. Homosexuals have the right to be loved and to love. Very true but they do not have the right to practice homosexual relationships or marry. That is not living in according to Gods commands and so no matter how much we convenience ourselves it okay it is not okay.

2. Divorced couples truly want someone to love and to be loved. It is true and in many cases someone may be better for them than their original spouse they divorced. But for Christ to bless that union they must be in the state of being able to be with that person. That is why Christ administered the sacrament of marriage. Otherwise no matter how good someone makes a person feel they never have the right to presume it is blessed by Christ and they are living on their terms and not Christ.

Avoiding Hypocrisy and Sin: The passage warns against hypocrisy and insincere faith. Catholic teaching stresses the need for regular self-examination, confession of sins, and a genuine desire to repent and grow in holiness. You really MUST believe this! We all fall but we must get up and live our faith sincerely or otherwise we are hypocrites.

Sacramental Life: In the Catholic tradition, the reception of the sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession) and the Eucharist (Holy Communion), is central to nurturing one's relationship with Christ and maintaining a state of grace.
So I opened up this episode saying do we fear our lord or love our lord?
The phrase "fear and trembling" in relation to our Lord is found in the New Testament of the Bible. It is used to emphasize the reverence, humility, and awe that believers should have in their relationship with God. Here are the main passages where this phrase is used:

Philippians 2:12-13: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

In this passage, the Apostle Paul encourages the Philippians to live out their faith with humility and reverence, understanding that their salvation is a cooperative process between their efforts and God's work in them.

1 Corinthians 2:3-5: "And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

Here, Paul describes his own approach to preaching the Gospel with a sense of humility, recognizing his human weakness and reliance on the power of God.

The phrase "fear and trembling" is used to convey a deep sense of humility and reverence before Christ, acknowledging His greatness and our own limitations. It does not imply a paralyzing fear, but a healthy awareness of our dependence on God and the seriousness of sin that destroy our relationship with Him.
We have but one purpose while here on earth and that is to save our soul and all those around us. If we truly truly love someone we will not lead them into temptation but deliver them from the evil of mortal sin no matter how compelling that sin feels as being good.

St John Vianney said that the fear of Christ is intimately connected to humility and recognizing our dependence on God. He believed that when we humbly acknowledge our need for God's guidance and grace, we cultivate a healthy fear of offending Him and strive to live in accordance with His will.

Now lets listen to the good Fr Broussard who is much wiser than I.