Twenty-Eighth Friday of Ordinary Time

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. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.

There is no such thing as a private sin. God sees all. He knows exactly how, when, and why we sin. He sees beyond our flawed logic, our misguided reasoning, and our disordered passions. He knows that nothing we do in secret ever just affects us. Every sin has a cost beyond ourselves. It costs us in time, energy, relationships, and in many other ways. It is easy to overlook the cost of sin, but it is always there and it leaves behind a void that we cannot fill except when we seek God's Mercy. Every time we choose evil over good we harm not only ourselves, but everyone around us. We might claim our sin is harmless, but that is only because we do not see all the ramifications of our sinful acts.

How often do our sins keep us from being there for friends, families, and neighbors? How often do our sins keep us from knowing, loving, and serving God and others? What can we do to replace the sins in our lives with virtues that lead others to heaven?

O Lord, you know everything about us. Show us who you want us to be and give us the graces we need to accept your calling.

Amen.

The Baptism of the Lord

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus shares in the baptism of John because he wants to unite himself to us. He might not have needed to be cleansed, but he wants to let us know that he understands our need for forgiveness and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. His baptism is also a sign of his transition from his private life as a carpenter and the son of Mary and Joseph to his public life as the Messiah and Savior. Just like Jesus, we also are called to transition from our private lives to public lives of faith. We might not be called to leave behind our private lives completely as Jesus was, but to some degree all Christians are called to lead a public life in imitation of Jesus. We can do this through our thoughts, words, and works. We can do this through small and great acts of love, mercy, and grace towards others or through lives of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting for God’s greater glory. The degree to which we transition from our private, worldlier lives to public, faithful lives is the degree to which we manifest Jesus Christ to those around us. So let us be beacons of God’s Will in the world so that one day our Heavenly Father will be able to say to us, “You are my beloved Son (or daughter); with you I am well please.”

Do we pray for the grace to live our faith in a way that brings ourselves and others closer to God? How do we imitate Jesus’ public ministry in our own lives? Are our lives pleasing to God?

O Lord, send your Holy Spirit down upon us so that we might be transformed into your beloved children and please you in all that we think, say, and do.

Amen.