“A successful life is an authentic life….The “masks” we wear for others conceal the very unique goodness and beauty of each soul…. No man for any considerable period can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true……An authentic life begins with the heart and in order to purify our heart we must reconcile our sins to God in the Sacrament and rely on His grace…. Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself…….. The wind might cause a kite to rise, but what keeps it up there is the fact that “somebody” has a steady hand, that “somebody” is God – We must give Him permission to work in our life!..........You have to hold steady to your values - It's your anchor. You let go of that. . . well, it isn't long before your kite comes crashing down….Daily & Consistent Prayer, fasting, alms giving and the Sacramental life keep us ROOTED in God……. The mistake made is, we “THINK” we can live apart from God and LIVE a truly authentic life…..A big mistake indeed…Our human nature is what it is…Our dependence on God is REAL…Denying it is denying REALITY ”

Gospel Text: (Lk 12:1-7)

At that time:
So many people were crowding together 
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.

“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
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.
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.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”

 

Reflect, today, upon the importance of striving for a life of true transparency and integrity. The best way to do this is to live every day as if everything within your heart were visible for all to see. If that means you need to change in some way so as to be at peace with what will eventually come to light, then work diligently on making that change here and now. The opposite of hypocrisy, for which the Pharisees were firmly condemned, is honesty and sincerity. Spend time reflecting upon these beautiful virtues and pray that the Lord will gift you with them so that you can live a life of true integrity here and now in preparation for that glorious day of judgment, when all will be “known” and “proclaimed on the housetops.”