26 August 2020 - Homily for Wednesday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time - Psalm 128

     I remember how my professor in seminary who taught courses on the Old Testament told us not to forget to preach on the first readings and the psalms from time to time.  We hear a very interesting psalm refrain today from psalm 128: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord.”  I don’t think we appreciate the way the Jewish people would have perceived fear.  It was not as much being afraid of punishment or retribution from God, but rather having a healthy respect for him. So what are some learnings we can take away from this psalm?  

First, fearing the Lord means to be in awe of his holiness, to give him complete reverence and to honor him as the God of great glory, majesty, purity and power.  For example, when God revealed himself to the Israelites at Mount Sinai with thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and with the loud blast of a trumpet blast,” they trembled in awe and wonder.  

Next, true fear of the Lord and respect for him should call us to a great faith.   True fear of the Lord calls us as disciples of Christ to place our faith and trust in him alone for salvation. Think about the reaction of the Israelites after they had crossed through the Red Sea on dry ground and saw the destruction of the Egyptian army by God.   In response, they feared the Lord and put their trust in him.  They grew in their faith in God. 

Also, fear of God calls us to greater obedience. If  indeed we fear the Lord, we will desire to follow his commandments and his law, to live according to his holy word and to turn away from sin. In the book of Exodus, on Mount Sinai, God inspired fear in the Israelites so that they would learn to turn away from sin and to obey his laws. 

As a missionary, I was attacked several times by feral dogs.  Thus, such dogs are something I fear.  I am afraid of being attacked by them and getting hurt by them.  I do think of fear of God in the same way.  I don’t fear being attacked by God like I was attacked by a feral dog, but I am in awe of his power and might, as the creator of the universe.