Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity.
[Timor non est in caritate : sed perfecta caritas foras mittit timorem, quoniam timor poenam habet : qui autem timet, non est perfectus in caritate.] 1 John 4,18
On its face, this passage especially taken in the context set forward by St. John in the 4th chapter of his first epistle seems very simple and direct: fear - the belief that some severe harm is coming to us or could come - is incompatible with the charity (Greek: agape) that God has towards us. He that yet fears the wrath or vengeance of God is somehow deficient in his reception of divine love.
As simple as it is - it is not easy. For each of us well knows our undeserving status, in which we can lay no claims at all to the divine mercy of almighty God. The evidence of this divine love is the sacrifice which Christ offered to the Father for us sinners. Yet when I look upon the crucifix and see the agony of my Redeemer, rather than rejoice in how loved I am by this Holy Savior, I am appalled at what my sins have done to Him Who was completely innocent and deserving not only of my love but my unquestioning obedience.
God please help me to look past my innumerable faults and trespasses and receive this divine caritas which You not only lavish upon me daily - hourly - moment by moment - but are offended when I do not sufficiently trust in it.
Deliver me from craven, servile fear O Lord that I may boast only in Thy divine generosity. St. Joseph, please obtain for me the grace of childlike trust in the goodness of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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