Fear: A Reflection on the Readings for the Solemnity on the Epiphany of the Lord

This video reflects on the readings for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, focusing on the concept of fear.

The speaker contrasts two types of fear:

Worldly Fear (Herod's Fear): Herod's fear is characterized by a desire to maintain power and control, leading to envy and a destructive impulse when he hears of the new "king of the Jews" (0:22-1:12).
Fear of the Lord (Magi's Fear): This is described as a gift of the Holy Spirit, manifesting as awe, reverence, resulting in generosity, and obedience (1:55-3:00). The Magi demonstrate this by paying homage to Jesus, being generous with their gifts, and obeying the dream to avoid returning to Herod (1:38-3:24).
The video emphasizes that "fear of the Lord" is not about being scared, but about a deep reverence for God. It encourages listeners to strengthen this gift through:

Prayer and Silence: Lifting hearts, minds, and souls to God in prayer, particularly in silence, is crucial for strengthening this gift (3:30-4:28).
Obedience and Being a Gift of Self: Obedience means emptying oneself of selfish ways to allow God to fill them, becoming a vessel for His will and being a "gift of self" rather than being selfish (4:30-5:30). Saying "yes" to God's calling, even when it's inconvenient, strengthens this gift (5:38-6:26).
The reflection concludes by encouraging viewers to commit to spending time in silence, lifting their hearts to God, and asking for a strengthening of the "fear of the Lord" to foster obedience and generosity (6:33-7:01).