Love and Fear

Two powerful emotions that refract in multiple ways into the relations of our lives are love and fear. In any relationship, the degree to which one of these takes dominance is the degree to which the other is diminished. In the First Letter of John, it is taught that God is love and that those who abide in love abide in God. We further learn that “There is no fear in love, but that perfect love casts out fear,” What is more, we love because God first loved us. (1John 4:16-19)

I am calling them emotions, but they are of course more than feelings, They are choices. They are stances: positions that result in attitudes, particular decisions, and actions. When we love, a certain set of realities takes shape, launched by our wills. When we fear, a quite different set takes shape, these too, coming out of our volition. Fear binds up love, and love sends fear packing.

Tomorrow, together in the liturgy, we will hear the passage from the First Book of Samuel, describing the story of David, the Israelite, right after he slays Goliath the Philistine. He is brought by King Saul’s commander of the army, Abner. David is questioned by the king. Two very different reactions are formed. The reaction of King Saul, to this young hero who has saved Israel from the Philistines, rescued them to fight another day, is one of suspicion, jealousy, and fear. The reaction of the king’s son, Jonathon, is one of esteem, love, and a bond of a friendship of the highest sort...

Saul’s reaction is so strong that when David is doing his courtly job of playing on the lyre to fill the space with calming music, Saul threw his spear from across the room, trying to pin David to the wall. Fear ushers in hateful actions. Jonathon’s loving response is to make a covenant with David because they discover an extraordinary, loving friendship, The symbolic gesture of this self-offering in friendship is the gift he makes of his clothes, arms, and gear. Notice it in this passage:

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. (1 Samuel 18:3-4)

Saul and Jonathon's father and son heard about David’s accomplishment against Goliath. Both were present for the inquiry and exchange at court, and both responded from their respective personality and context. Jonathon offered his weapons in a gesture of submission. Saul delivered his weapon in a gesture of aggression. Jonathon is proposing rare friendship, Saul, crazed with insecurity, attempts murder.

All of us are capable of cultivating fear and love. One transforms us into a monstrous version of ourselves, the other into the highest version of ourselves. Since I am sure of which one you would recommend for yourself, I will add one thing more. The best delivery system for you to receive love is to go to the Source of love. As we noted above through the writing of John. “God is love.” The awe-inspiring power of love is available as you submit yourself in friendship to Jesus Christ. Simply ask for love by opening yourself in a relationship with Jesus. He will cast out fear, and calm all threatening storms.