Homily for Thursday 31st January 2019
_“For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” *(Mark 4:22-23)*_
Our responsorial psalm today asks a question: “Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place?” And it answers: “The clean of hand and pure of heart…”
What does it mean to be clean of hands and pure of heart? Simple: it means living as a light in the midst of the darkness of vice and evil that surrounds our world. To be clean of hands and pure of heart means that you do not have any skeletons in your wardrobe. To be clean of heart and pure of heart means that you basically have nothing to hide.
By the way, we live a world where it has virtually impossible to hide anything anymore. With our latest technological gadgets and devices, one’s entire life history can be dug up in a minute. Take the mobile phone, for instance, every call you have ever made, every text message you sent or read, every social media chat are all recorded somehow somewhere in the cloud.
Even when you delete, destroy the phone, close down your account and destroy your email, it is never hidden. Just wait till you become a “somebody” or start campaigning for President and you will understand.
Even a picture you took innocently can be interpreted otherwise with a false but convincing story and used to tarnish your image. How much more, when you are actually guilty of some evil deed?
Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel passage: “For nothing is hidden, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light.” Like the Parable of the Sower, this too is a parable directed at those who have ears.
To have ears in this context is to be wise enough to avoid falling into the trap of sin thinking it could be covered up. To have ears in this context is to wise enough to know that it only takes time for the truth to rear its ugly head.
Before you act, think! Think not only about the immediate result but think also of years to come. Live your life in such a way that when all your secret deeds and hidden facts come to light, you will be so proud of yourself.
The book of Hebrews today tells us to always encourage one another and stir people up to love and good works. We can do this by telling each other the truth rather than partake in secrecy.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, wash us clean from all attachment to sin, evil and deeds of darkness. Amen.
St. John Bosco, Pray for us.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Hebrews 10:19-25, Psalm 24, Mark 4:21-25).
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