Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - 2nd Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 5:17-26 and John 3:16-21]And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
APRIL 30, ST. PIUS V [O.P.], pope
Scriptures may vary at Dominican locales.
I heard a civil judge say at a workshop on child sex abuse that the best way to have nothing to hide is to hide nothing! But we Americans (and westerners in general) prize our privacy! The advent of those little cell phones and webcams has made that privacy an endangered species! Any member of a household or a visitor can capture an "awkward moment" and send a picture of it around the world in a few seconds! Indeed, the United States Supreme Court is hearing cases today on how much law enforcement officers can invade those cell phones and webcams in search of incriminating evidence!!!!
The Gospel of John speaks of light and darkness and judgment! How much light can we stand? We might allow a bit of glare in the Sacrament of Reconciliation but that is not usually done where everyone can see and hear! We may admit to God that we have roaches scurrying around in the darker corners of our lives but we will do everything to keep anyone else from finding out! This is what makes Jesus' words in today's gospel a rather scalding challenge! We can try to narrow the focus by pointing out that in the Gospel of John, it is a matter of the light of faith and the darkness of unbelief, but that would rob the gospel of its challenge. What do we have to hide? That question can tell us a lot about ourselves and our need for conversion and letting our works be "clearly seen as done in God." AMEN