December
13

Fear Not.

And the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: His mother Mary, being betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, was found with child from the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being just, and not willing to expose her to public infamy, intended to send her away privately. And while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is from the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:18-21)

Speaking generally, “fear” is of two kinds—fear in what is not sacred, and fear in what is sacred. Fear in what is not sacred is the fear in which the wicked are; but fear in what is sacred is the fear in which the good are. This latter fear (namely, that in which the good are) is called reverential or sacred fear, and is the result of wonder at and longing for what is Divine, and also of love. Love that is devoid of reverential or sacred fear is as it were devoid of savor, or is like food unseasoned with salt, and consequently insipid; but love that is attended with fear is like food that is seasoned, but yet does not taste of salt. The fear of love is a fear of injuring the Lord in any way, or of injuring the neighbor in any way, thus of injuring what is good and true in any way, and consequently of injuring the sacred things of love and faith and the consequent worship. (Arcana Coelestia 3718)

When a man feels or perceives in himself that he has good thoughts concerning the Lord, and that he has good thoughts concerning the neighbor, and desires to perform kind offices for him, not for the sake of any gain or honor for himself; and when he feels that he has pity for anyone who is in trouble, and still more for one who is in error in respect to the doctrine of faith, then he may know that he dwells in the tents of Shem, that is, that he has internal things in him through which the Lord is working. (Arcana Coelestia 1102)

Those who have faith of charity… notice the goods [with others], and if they see evils and falsities, they excuse them, and if possible endeavor with that person to correct them. (Arcana Coelestia 1079)

previous		next