January 29, 2015
Thursday, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: Heb 10:19-25 Gospel: Mk 4:21–25
Jesus said to his disciples, “When the light comes, is it to be put under a tub or a bed? Surely it is put on a lamp stand. Whatever is hidden will be disclosed, and whatever is kept secret will be brought to light. Listen then, if you have ears!” (…)
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE (Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
While we have invented many ways to cover up wrong doings, this fact remains: we can only hide from the scrutinizing eyes of our fellowmen, never from the watchful gaze of conscience. A bothered conscience can be more tormenting than the accusing fingers of society. Some seek to silence conscience to escape the torment; others react positively by confessing their guilt. The following story illustrates.
A story is told of a sacristan who accidentally killed with his slingshot a turkey belonging to the priest. It was only late in the afternoon that he found out someone saw what he did. “Go and fetch some water so you can do the cooking as you clean the kitchen,” the convent cook told him. It was the first time she ordered him around that way. When he protested the cook retorted: “And you think you can go scot-free with what you did with the turkey?” He was so scared. Starting that day he became the cook’s slave. After so many months he finally decided to confess to the priest. To his surprise, all that the priest told him was: “I was watching from my window while you were burying the turkey; I should have forgiven you long ago had you come to me that day”.
There is a cook inside each of us called guilt when we choose to cover up evil deeds. Guilt is the vehement protest of conscience that creates inner tension. The song “Gusto kong bumait pero di ko magawa” succinctly describes this inner struggle. We experience this in many common ways like when we tell many bigger lies to cover up smaller infractions instead of allowing good forces to suck us into the vortex of truth.
The sacristan had two options: to bury his conscience along with the dead turkey or to confess. His life became miserable when he opted for the first. The torment he experienced with the cook was only symbolic of his inner slavery. Finally he tried the second option. It bailed him out and brought him freedom and peace. The same options are in your hands each time your conscience bothers you. Whatever your choice is, just bear in mind what today’s Gospel reading tells us. “Whatever is hidden will be disclosed, and whatever is kept secret will be brought to light.” – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email:dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
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