Daily Retreat 10/20/06
2006 Oct 20 Fri: Ordinary Weekday/ Paul of the Cross, p, rf
Eph 1: 11-14/ Ps 32(33): 1-2. 4-5. 12-13/ Lk 12: 1-7
From today’s readings: “In Christ we were also chosen.... Upright is the word of the LORD, and all His works are trustworthy.... Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees....”
Secret Sins
Most of us can remember times in childhood when we found ourselves with friends and about to go somewhere forbidden, or say something uncouth, or do something wrong, but the temptation was overcome merely by the voiced and timely warning that “someone might see us, and then we’d be in big trouble!”
Part of growing up involves the realization that sinful actions are simply always wrong, even if there’s absolutely no chance of “being caught.” But children as well as adults find it much easier to succumb to temptations of “secret sins,” wrongdoings that have little chance of being discovered. So we gossip, and speak white lies, and “round up” in our own favor, and cut ourselves all kinds of slack in everyday matters of morality.
But Jesus alerts us to the futility of such actions, insisting that ultimately, “there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.” With the Lord’s grace, each of us can learn to face our secret sins, not to see how much we can get away with them, but how much we can get away from them!
Eph 1: 11-14/ Ps 32(33): 1-2. 4-5. 12-13/ Lk 12: 1-7
From today’s readings: “In Christ we were also chosen.... Upright is the word of the LORD, and all His works are trustworthy.... Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees....”
Secret Sins
Most of us can remember times in childhood when we found ourselves with friends and about to go somewhere forbidden, or say something uncouth, or do something wrong, but the temptation was overcome merely by the voiced and timely warning that “someone might see us, and then we’d be in big trouble!”
Part of growing up involves the realization that sinful actions are simply always wrong, even if there’s absolutely no chance of “being caught.” But children as well as adults find it much easier to succumb to temptations of “secret sins,” wrongdoings that have little chance of being discovered. So we gossip, and speak white lies, and “round up” in our own favor, and cut ourselves all kinds of slack in everyday matters of morality.
But Jesus alerts us to the futility of such actions, insisting that ultimately, “there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.” With the Lord’s grace, each of us can learn to face our secret sins, not to see how much we can get away with them, but how much we can get away from them!
posted by FrPitstick | 10/18/2006
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