Beware

Beware.

Hypocrisy, unbelief, unspoken judgments, hatred, resentment, lust, every kind of base desire—all will ultimately be brought to light and shouted from the rooftops.   That thought might make you feel panicky.   We all have sins that we hope will never be revealed.   Like Adam and Eve, we try to hide the things that make us feel ashamed and guilty.

But Jesus came bringing good news, not bad.   And today’s good news is this: you are precious in God’s sight.   “You are worth more than many sparrows”.   If God knows and values every single sparrow, which is sold for next to nothing, how much more does he know and care for you!   He loves you so much and values you so dearly that you never need to keep your hidden self from him.   He knows you through and through— and still he loves you with an everlasting love.

So don’t be afraid of God. Ever.   Instead, get to know him.   Spend time with him.   When you are at Mass, thank him for welcoming you into his house and into his presence.   Listen eagerly to his word in Scripture.   If you don’t understand it, ask his Spirit to help you.   In the quiet time after Communion, ask him to give you a taste of his love.   Believe that he delights in answering those requests because he delights in you.

As you come to know God and his love for you more and more deeply, that love will drive out fear.   You will still “beware,” but not with the anxiety of one who is living a hidden life.   Instead, you will be on the lookout for thoughts in your heart that might cloud your relationship with him.   And when you find something, you will want to bring it into his light immediately rather than trying to keep it hidden.   You will want to deal with it now, in the light of his love, rather than having it published abroad at the end.

So let God show you how much he can do for you—and how gently and lovingly he will do it.   You have great worth in his eyes!

word among us