The timing of our Church’s liturgical readings is often times uncanny. There have been many instances where a reading seems to speak to us as individuals just when we need it; or as a whole people during a time of upheaval.
So many times we read something that makes a direct hit to the details of our day … it’s like ‘How does He do that?’
Today in these United States, we are currently caught up in a massive “he-said, she-said” moment concerning a most important appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. On a global stage, we also continue to deal with the Catholic Church scandal.
This moment in time comes after several months of incredible, life-changing circumstances involving old buried secrets suddenly brought to light – leading to the immediate public disgrace and downfall of many people who had been pillars of their communities.
But the truth is, this is nothing new. Mankind has been burying secrets since the day Adam and Eve covered themselves with leaves and ran into the garden to hide; since Cain buried Abel.
What is new to our generation is the advent of instant communications on a global basis – social media – which is truly becoming a very sharp, unforgiving two-edged sword.
Social media can and has become a tremendous tool of change for good. But it has also become a tool in the hands of many who are not merely interested in seeking justice for those without a voice, but who are also seeking to become “judge, jury and executioner” in a matter of a few days.
We as Christians know that there is only One who has the power to execute such final power over a person’s soul. We should not be looking to expand that and we most certainly should not be cooperating in our current state of mob mentality that seeks to use that power for its own end.
We are a people of justice … of God’s justice. Mankind has done a pretty decent job of creating a man-made system to mimic that process of seeking the truth, confronting the lies and administering the temporary punishment of those who sin. It is a system that demands wisdom, fairness and above all else, patience.
Sadly, we have no patience.
Given all that, today’s readings of the Mass seem to hit home.
Below is a reflection I first wrote a few years ago – long before our current social media movements and controversies that have taken over our news cycles.
My first thought was to NOT publish this reflection again, given the headlines of our day.
But then I recall how angry I get when certain passages of scripture are “glossed over” by many because they are just too much to handle. Ephesians 5:21 is a classic example: “Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church.”
Yeah, that can be tough to unpack and explain. But that is what we are called to do. If Scripture is part of the three-legged stool of salvation (Tradition-Scripture-Magesterium), then we shouldn’t be picking and choosing Bible passages (or Church teachings, for that matter – but that is a whole other subject).
So, today, we must look deeper into the readings – something that many people will cringe about, while others will celebrate, depending on where you currently reside on the political spectrum.
From September of 2016 …
We think we are so smart, hiding the bad things that we do.
But they never stay hidden.
From the little things … like telling a lie, cheating at a game of cards, spreading harmful gossip at work. To the big things … like adultery, corrupting the innocence of a child, or murder.
Somebody always finds out. Somebody knows. E-mails and text messages tend to become public.
Many times, the hidden sins of our hearts are exposed by those we know, those we love, those we harm … other times, it can be complete strangers.
Tabloid newspapers and websites relish the news when a celebrity or a politician takes a hard fall – when a lie is revealed, a marriage is crushed, a life is ruined.
Cheered on by the judgmental mob of public opinion, the end result often ends in a bad way.
But let us be honest. It’s not always so cut and dried. There are times when bad things are done to good people – and nobody knows the culprit. Diabolical men and women can sometimes appear to get away with their crimes, their sins.
But do they truly get away with anything? Can we really hide the evil that lurks in our hearts?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus seems to indicate the contrary.
“Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.
“For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
Read this line again …
“For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”
Try as we might, we simply cannot hide the evil things we do.
We may be able to deceive those around us … for a time.
But at some point, usually when we least expect it, our “dirt” is exposed.
Maybe it does not happen in our lifetime. Maybe it does not make the media. Maybe … it doesn’t even come to the light of the public at all.
But it is never hidden from the eyes of God.
And no matter what you believe, we will have to answer for our sins when we pass away to the next life. This is the price we pay for enjoying the gift of free will. We’re not robots.
There is a better way.
Stop the sinful things you are doing today … TODAY … and seek God’s mercy and forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Come out of that confessional with a fresh start and a new freedom – the freedom to live without fear that your sins will be revealed.
Make peace with God. And then begin to reshape your life and your habits. Take control of your passions and inclinations to sin. They may not go away at first, or ever, … but they don’t have the power to control your actions. Only you have that.
Impossible, you say? With God, nothing is impossible. And with Him, there is eternal life to be gained.
Take to heart the words of our first reading today from Proverbs:
Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways: To the LORD the perverse one is an abomination, but with the upright is his friendship.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but the dwelling of the just he blesses; When dealing with the arrogant, he is stern, but to the humble he shows kindness.
Amen?
