awesome ministry
“I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of His garment filling the temple.” —Isaiah 6:1
Before Isaiah was called to be a prophet, he had a life-changing experience of God’s holiness and glory. This awe of God’s presence, the fear of the Lord, is not only the beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10), but also of ministry. Ezekiel also experienced the fear of the Lord profoundly before he became a prophet (Ez 1:1ff). Before Jesus’ public ministry, He heard the Father’s voice from the sky and experienced the Spirit descending on Him (Mt 3:16-17).
At the Church’s beginning, “a reverent fear overtook them all, for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles” (Acts 2:43). St. Peter experienced the fear of the Lord early in his relationship with the Lord and “fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord. I am a sinful man’ ” (Lk 5:8). On the road to Damascus, St. Paul saw a sudden flash of light, fell to the ground, and was blind for three days (Acts 9:3ff). Thus began his Christian life and ministry.
We also need to deeply experience the fear of the Lord in some way to have a strong foundation for our ministry. We should praise and thank the Lord for His love and presence that we are already experiencing. We should ask for the Lord to manifest His presence to us in a new and much deeper way. May we make “steady progress in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31).
Prayer: Father, may I experience Your presence so strongly it overshadows every aspect of my life.
Promise: “Every hair of your head has been counted; so do not be afraid of anything.” —Mt 10:30-31
Praise: St. Benedict and his monks set aside four to six hours daily for reading of the Word of God.
Reference: (For a related teaching on Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Evangelization, listen to, download or order AV 58-3 or V 58 on our website.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from June 1, 2026, through July 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio November 12, 2025"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.