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| North American Martyrs |
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
We must be people of integrity with none of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. We can't allow ourselves to remain one person deep in our inner self and someone else to the world. Unconfessed sin retains power over us. Even secret faults and weaknesses, not necessarily sinful in themselves, that we are unwilling to share with anyone can become strongholds. This is why the rule of Saint Benedict's chapter on humility tells us, "The fifth step of humility is that a man does not conceal from his abbot any sinful thoughts entering his heart, or any wrongs committed in secret, but rather confesses them humbly" (see Chapter 7 verse 44 of the Rule). Even thoughts, not necessarily sinful in themselves, are confessed so they do not become enemy strongholds. Confession leads to freedom. Our inner heart is no longer trapped inside ourselves. We no longer meet the world just on an external and superficial level. We come with are whole and integrated self.
When we are well integrated with no private secret attachment to sin we become fearless in the face of the things of this world even as the fear of God is made perfect in us.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Just as we cannot allow darkness to remain trapped within us so too must we allow the light we are given to shine through us. We can't be lamps hidden under a bushel basket. As we move away from our need to be fearful and self-protective we learn who we truly are in God's eyes. We see that we are worth more than many sparrows. When we realize this we no longer need to be afraid of the consequences of proclaiming the gospel. Indeed, we can't help but shout it from the housetops.
In Christ we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
We are chosen to exist in this freedom, chosen for the praise of the glory of God.
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