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Brothers and Sisters: In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, who first hoped in Christ.”
The first reading for Mass today begins with these words. If you continue on to the gospel today, it says:
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.”
Jesus knows our conduct, but most importantly, Jesus Christ knows the intent of our heart. No matter what our lives may look like to other people from the outside looking in, Jesus knows the truth. The truth will set you free. Because if your deeds were done with the right intent during your life, if they were done out of love and an unselfish concern for other people, then you have nothing to fear. There are people who are wrongfully convicted of a crime and spend years of their life behind bars before new evidence turns up that exonerates them from the crime they were accused of committing. Things are not always what they appear to be from the outside looking in.
Before Jesus spoke to the crowds in today’s gospel though, he said this to his disciples:
“Beware of the leaven – that is, the hypocrisy – of the Pharisees.”
Jesus was much harder on the religious leaders of his time, than the common person. They were supposed to have set the example, by loving God and loving one another, but instead they turned their religious beliefs into something that was life draining for the people, rather than life giving. Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. It is never Christ’s will that anyone suffer in the name of religion, and yet religion has caused a great deal of pain and suffering for people over the years.
The things we do and say in the name of religion, that causes other people to suffer is not right. Christ spent his entire life healing those who suffered, and even by his death, he eliminated the suffering we would have endured in hell.
This is probably more than enough to reflect on today. Have there been times that we have been the cause of suffering for other people, because of our religious beliefs?
Sometimes young people abandon the faith they were raised with, because their parents conveyed harsh rules about religion, rather than the love that Christ came to teach us. Adults leave the church sometimes too, because of gossip, or because of critical words or rash judgments that someone in their faith community made about them.
If you have ever been the brunt of this type of treatment at home, in the workplace, or in our faith community though, Christ has a few healing words to say to you at the end of the gospel:
“Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”
Daily Mass Readings:
Ephesians 1: 11-14 / Psalm 33 / Luke 12: 1-7
