Speak!

Today’s readings touch on many things, but they all boil down to this: awareness of sin and courage to speak.

The world puts Christians down. It calls us arrogant, hypocrites, and secret sinners. It says we lack the “moral standing” to tell other people what to do. (But from where do they get the moral standing to tell us this?) Jesus essentially warns us of these things in today’s Gospel.

To be sure, we are sinners: all of us, as individuals and, in some concrete ways, even as a Church. Like the prophet Isaiah, we are keenly aware that we have unclean lips, individually and collectively. We know that nothing is concealed that will not be made known.

We confess our sins, we seek to make things right, we ask for forgiveness, we trust in the powerful forgiveness that comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we obey His command: proclaim His Truth from the housetops.

This Truth is not of our own making - we are sinners – it is Christ who gives us this Truth and it is He who gives us the courage to proclaim it, in spite of our own unworthiness, to call to those around us to join us on the journey up the road that leads to perfection.

We dare not shrink from this duty, for if we deny Christ – in word or deed, by action or inaction – he will deny us. We need not fear anything in this world, for nothing evil in this world lasts forever. We should take courage, for the Father loves us, He offers us forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and He wants us to come to Him.

Spread the word.