SERVILE FEAR REMAINS ALONG WITH DIVINE LOVE
The lady we spoke about does not want to leave the needle in her work when it is finished. Yet as long as she has something to be done in it, if she is forced to stop by some other need, she will leave the needle sticking in the carnation, rose or pansy she is embroidering. This is to have it ready at hand when she returns to her work. Similarly, Theotimus, while Divine Providence makes the embroidery of virtues and the work of his sacred love in our souls, he always leaves there servile or mercenary fear. This is until charity having come to perfection takes out this pricking needle and puts it back, so to speak, in its cushion. Hence in this life in which our charity will never come to such perfection that it shall be exempt from danger, we are always in need of fear. Even as we thrill with joy by love, we must tremble with anxiety by fear. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice unto him with trembling (Ps 2:10).
The great father Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to bring a wife for his only son Isaac. Eliezer went and by heavenly inspiration chose the beautiful and chaste Rebecca whom he took back with him. But this wise maiden left Eliezer as soon as she met Isaac, and being led into Sarah’s chamber she remained his spouse forever (Gen 24). God often sends servile fear [to the soul] like another Eliezer (which means help from God) to arrange the marriage between the soul and sacred love. Though the soul comes under the guidance of fear, this is not because it wants to espouse fear. In fact, as soon as the soul meets with love, it unites itself to it forsaking fear.
Just as Eliezer on his return remained in the house, in the service of Isaac and Rebecca, so fear having brought us to sacred love remains with us to serve love and the loving soul as occasion requires. Though the soul is just, it sees itself often attacked by severe temptations. Love, all courageous as it is, has enough to do to maintain itself because of the situation of the place in which it is, that is, the human heart, changeable and subject to the mutiny of the passions. Then, Theotimus, love employs fear in the fight, making use of it to drive away the enemy.
The brave prince Jonathan, going to attack the Philistines in the darkness of the night, wanted his armour-bearer with him and those he did not kill, his armour-bearer killed (1Sam 14:13). So also love, wanting to carry out some bold enterprise, uses not only its own motives but also the motives of servile and mercenary fear. The temptations which love does not undo are overthrown by the fear of being damned. If a temptation to pride, to avarice or to some sensual pleasure attacks me, I shall say, “Ah! Is it really possible that for things so empty my heart would give up the grace of its Beloved?" But if this is not enough, love will arouse fear: “Ah! do you not see, miserable heart, that if you give way to this temptation, the terrible flames of hell await you, and that you lose the eternal inheritance of heaven?" One makes use of everything in extreme need, as the same Jonathan did when passing the sharp rocks between him and the Philistines. He made use not only of his feet but crept and crawled with his hands as best he could (1Sam 14:13).
Seamen who set out with a favourable wind and in fair weather never forget the ropes, anchors and other things required in time of danger and storm. Similarly the servant of God, though he enjoys the peace and sweetness of sacred love, must never be unprovided with the fear of the divine judgments so that he may use it during the storms and attacks of temptation. Again, the skin of an apple is in itself of small esteem, yet helps greatly to preserve the apple it covers. In the same way servile fear, which of its own nature is of little worth in comparison with love, is yet extremely useful for preserving it during the dangers of this mortal life. A person who gives a pomegranate gives it surely for the seeds and juice that it has inside. But that does not keep him from giving also the skin as a necessary part of it. So also the Holy Spirit bestows loving fear as one of his sacred gifts on the souls of those who are his own, that they may fear God in piety,17 as their Father and their Spouse. Yet, he does not fail to give them also servile and mercenary fear, as an accessory to the other which is more excellent. Thus Joseph sending to his father several loads of all the riches of Egypt, gave him not only the treasures as his principal gifts but also the donkeys that carried them (Gen 45:23).
Now though servile and mercenary fear is very necessary for this mortal life, yet it is unworthy to have a place in eternal life. There we shall have certainty without fear, peace without uncertainty, rest without anxiety. The services that these servile and mercenary fears have done for love will be rewarded there. Thus though these fears, like another Moses and Aaron do not enter the Promised Land, yet their posterity and works will enter. As to the fears of children and the fear of spouses, they will hold their rank and place there. This is not to cause any distrust or anxiety in the soul. It is to make it admire and reverence with submission the incomprehensible majesty of this all powerful Father, and this Spouse of glory. The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever (Ps 19:9).